Free Korean Dogs

Documentary

EK Going Back to Korea for Bok Nal

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Summer is a really bad time to be a dog in Korea. Bok Nal, or the dog days of summer, is the Korean name for the oppressively hot Korean summer. This year Bok Nal begins on July 17th and ends August 16th. Many Koreans, mostly older generations, believe that the best way to beat the summer heat is with a steaming hot bowl of boshintang, or dog meat soup. As a result, over one million Korean dogs will be slaughtered this summer.

The Road to Bok Nal 2016

Free Korean Dogs founder EK Park spent two months in Korea this spring. During this time she witnessed first hand (and filmed) the abhorrent conditions these animals endure at the hands of the unregulated dog meat trade. Korea is the only country in the world that farms dogs for food. Dog meat farms dot the countryside, where unfortunate souls are warehoused in filthy cages with no water and only human food waste to eat.

As spring turns to summer, the dogs are herded off to the butcher. In total, well over two million dogs are slaughtered in Korea each year, most during Bok Nal. The hotter the weather this summer, the more dogs will suffer and die.

Blowing the Doors Off Bok Nal

We plan to send EK back to Korea during Bok Nal 2016. After the last trip, EK realized the importance of putting boots on the ground. This is why it’s very important for her to be in Korea at the height of the slaughter, despite the inevitable emotional trauma. EK summarizes it best:

There are many online activists in the community. They play an important role because they help share information and bring the community together. But sometimes you have to get into the middle of the action. That’s where real change happens.

Our core strategy is to end the dog meat trade through public awareness, community outreach and international adoption. On this trip, EK will meet with key members of the local animal activist community. The goal is to organize a public demonstration against the dog meat trade at the height of Bok Nal. Plans are already underway and details will follow once we secure the necessary permits from municipal authorities.

The Korean animal welfare community is rather disjointed, with significant infighting and philosophical differences. This makes it hard to encourage collaboration between local groups. Also, foreign organizations are often perceived by local groups as unwelcome outsiders meddling in domestic affairs.

EK was born and raised in Korea. She has the language skills, cultural awareness and local connections required to rally the Korean animal welfare community. Perhaps more important, she’s also backed by an engaged and supportive community of animal welfare activists from around the world. With her local roots and global community, EK is well positioned to mount an effective demonstration and send a powerful message, loud and clear, to the dog meat trade.

Save as Many as Possible

To follow up on the success of her last trip, EK will continue her work with local shelters to get as many dogs out of the country through our international adoption program. Korean Jindo dogs are considered excellent companion animals in the West. Most Koreans, however, prefer smaller breeds and view domestic breeds as “meat dogs.” This makes it next to impossible to get dogs rescued from the dog meat trade adopted within Korea.

As a result, rescued dogs end up warehoused in shelters waiting to be adopted. With the help of both local and international supporters, we’ve had great success finding forever homes for Korean rescue dogs. We are already lining up adoptive homes for a number of dogs that EK will transport from Korea this summer.

Bok Nal Filming Opportunity

This trip will also provide an essential opportunity to complete filming of EK’s upcoming documentary, Compassion Soup: The End of Dog Meat in Korea. While demonstrations and adoptions have an immediate impact, the long term solution is to change Koreans’ perception of dogs.

Dog Meat Farm in Wonju Korea

This documentary is unique in that it is being produced by Koreans for Koreans. The goal is to remind everyday Korean people of their essentially compassionate nature, and encourage a shift from cruelty to compassion for Korean dogs. Bok Nal is the perfect time to film examples of both cruelty and compassion, which makes this trip essential for the success of the film.

It Takes a Village

Caged Dogs at Korean Dog Meat FarmIt has been almost a year since EK founded Free Korean Dogs, and we’ve come a long way in a short time. This trip is our best opportunity yet to make a real difference for the dogs of Korea. But we need your help to make it happen.

Free Korean Dogs is a registered not-for-profit organization, which survives solely through community support. If you are able, please donate now to help get EK back on the front line. Together we can stop the suffering and end the Korean dog meat trade.

Join the Campaign, Stop the Dog and Cat Meat Trade in Korea

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Today the team of Wizard of Hope Animal Shelter and I joined the campaign, Stop the Dog and Cat Meat Trade in Korea. Although it was a short time, we met the mayor of Seongnam City and were able to deliver our message that we want the city to shut down Moran Market, the largest dog meat market in Korea and also to become an active voice against the dog and cat meat trade. The Mayor is known to be a dog lover. We hope that the end of dog and cat meat in Korea is coming soon.

Kunsan PAWS the Wonderful People

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Two weeks ago we got an email from Amanda Clasen, a member of Kunsan PAWS, a wonderful animal welfare community inside the US AIR FORCE BASE in Kunsan, Korea.  She said that Kunsan PAWS wanted to donate over 5,000 pounds of dog food to Free Korean Dogs. We delivered the food to Maseok Animal Shelter and Wizard of Hope Animal Shelter who desperately needed dog food at that time. Thanks so much, Kunsan PAWS for your love and care for dogs suffering in Korea. Together we can bring the change.

Kunsan PAWS – Patriots for Animal Welfare & Scholarship (PAWS) is dedicated to helping shelter animals in Korea through donations of time, talent, and funding.

Dog Meat Farm Closed

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This week EK Park, our founder, filmed Humane Society International and the closing of their 5th dog meat farm in Korea. They rescued 171 dogs that were destined for slaughter. The dogs will now be put up for adoption so they can find their forever homes.

EK filming HSIAs you can see from the video and photos, the dogs are made to live in deplorable conditions. The only time their feet touch the ground is when they are herded off to the slaughterhouse.

This is why we are working to replace cruelty for compassion for the dogs of Korea. EK is in Korea shooting a documentary, Compassion Soup: the End of Dog Meat in Korea, which highlights the importance of peaceful coexistence with our canine companions.

While in Korea, EK is also touring several dog shelters and meeting with a number of animal activist groups to discuss collaborative opportunities.

On a personal note, we talk almost every day and, while EK is keeping up an incredibly busy schedule, I can see that the emotional stress is starting to take it’s toll. The standard in the treatment of dogs in Korea is far different than in the West. Dogs in the meat trade are housed outside in tiny cages with little or no food and water. Even those kept as pets are often seen tied to a post outside and fed only food waste.

Help Us Make A Difference

For real change to happen for the dogs of Korea, we must work to change public perception and cultivate compassion for our adorable four-legged friends. If you would like to get involved, there are a number of ways to get involved:

  1. Make a donation to support our documentary project and international adoption program.
  2. Apply to adopt a dog rescued from the dog meat trade.
  3. Sign up for our newsletter and follow us on social media to stay current on the latest developments.
  4. Share this post to help build awareness about the Korean dog meat trade.

We are confident that the Korean dog meat trade is on the way out and that a new era of respect for animals in Korea as possible in the near future. But change will only happen if we can come together with one voice to promote compassion over cruelty for dogs in Korea.

EK Having Fun with the Chicken Farm Dogs in Korea

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While EK is in Korea shooting her documentary, Compassion Soup: the End of Dog Meat in Korea, she visited Gin Oak shelter and had so much fun. There are currently 10 dogs rescued from a chicken farm before they were sold to the dog meat market in Korea. EK works hard to change people’s consciousness about the dog meat trade. There is no such thing as  a “meat” dog. They all deserve to be happy.

Please support EK’s documentary, Compassion Soup. She needs your help to continue her work in Korea.

Korean Rescue Dogs Need Loving Homes

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While I’m in Korea shooting my documentary, Compassion Soup: the End of Dog Meat in Korea, I’m also working very hard to find homes for the Chicken Farm Dogs at Gin Oak Shelter and also the dogs at Wizard of Hope Animal Shelter (WOH).

At the moment,  there are 10 dogs, mostly Jindo mix, at Gin Oak shelter and 32 dogs (half of them are small breeds) at WOH. They were all rescued from dog meat farms last year in Korea and most of them have been spayed/neutered, and vaccinated. Many of them are very affectionate and absolutely ready for adoption. But now there’s an urgent crisis and we need your help before time runs out.

About the 25 Dogs at a Dog Meat Farm

A dog meat farm in KoreaAs many of you already know, there is another dog meat farm with 25 dogs and goats. We only have a couple of months to rescue these dogs because the dog farm owner wants to sell them in summer before Boknal for the best price. In order to rescue them, we have to find a shelter first. Luckily the two shelters, Gin Oak and WOH, are willing to help us. The challenge however is to find forever homes for the dogs already in the shelters. If we find homes for these dogs, the shelters can take the 25 dogs and keep them until they finish vaccinations and are ready to fly.

How You Can Help

We need your help to save these dogs and help them find their forever homes. We are looking for shelters, foster homes and adopters in the US and Canada. Unfortunately sending dogs to other countries is very difficult due to strict regulations.

  1. Please contact your local animal shelters and dog rescue groups to see if they can take some of our dogs. All expenses for vaccinations, crates, health certificates, and transportation will be covered.
  2. In the case of private adoption, the adopter has to pay for the transportation cost. Please read our Adoption/Foster Care Policy & Process.
  3. If you are interested in adopting or fostering a dog, please submit an adoption application.
  4. Please share our blog articles with your family and friends.
  5. Donations are always welcome help us rescue more dogs.

Dogs at WOH & Gin Oak Shelter

Dogs in Korea

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When I drive around outside big cities in Korea, I see dogs all over tied to poles with no water, food, or shelter. Korea is a really tough country for dogs.

Yesterday I saw these three dogs with no water or food. Two of them had no shelter. It rained a lot two days ago and they would probably have to endure the cold rain besides hunger and thirst.

Every time I encounter a situation like this, I tell myself how important true education is. True education is concerned not only with practical goals, but also with values of life.

When we learn to respect all life, we learn to love all life.

Sadly, that’s what’s missing in Korea.

EK in Korea

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We are excited to announce that production has started in Korea on our documentary film Compassion Soup: the End of Dog Meat in Korea. On March 29th, EK flew to Korea for two months of filming, loaded down with what seemed like way too much equipment for one small person to handle. The goal of this trip is to capture perspectives from both those in the dog meat trade and those trying desperately to stop it.

We are also using this opportunity to build stronger collaborative ties with the incredible animal rescuers and advocates on the ground in Korea. While there are a number of animal activist groups in Korea, they are quite splintered and distributed, which makes it challenging to effectively collaborate as a whole.

Challenging Journey in Korea

On top of the technical and physical challenges of shooting a documentary, this trip is already taking an emotional toll on EK. The following is a transcript of her comments in the video above:

I’m in Korea now to shoot my documentary Compassion Soup: the End of Dog Meat in Korea. It’s tough to be here, because everywhere I go I see a dog tied to a pole, often with no water, no food, no shelter, nothing. And several dog meat farms. And I also saw 18 dog meat restaurants around this area. I know for many Koreans, eating dog meat is the same as eating beef or pork. A lot of people say, you can’t save all these dogs in Korea. It’s like a drop in the bucket. I know that, but the drop really matters to me.

On a personal note, I’m finding it increasingly difficult to sit here on the other side of the world and watch while EK experiences this journey alone. As EK’s life partner, I feel like I should be there for help and support.

Alas, I stayed behind in Toronto to take care of our fur babies and day-to-day affairs. While I admire EK’s courage and commitment, it doesn’t help to calm the feeling that I should be there to carry her camera, hold her hand and share her burden.

Change Through Compassion

EK with Hiro and Abra

EK with Hiro and Abra

Despite the challenges, we believe this journey is well worth the effort. We believe in the power of documentary film to affect positive change in world. That’s why we’re on this mission.

Free Korean Dogs has a simple goal: to end the dog meat trade in Korea. In the short term, our international adoption program helps to find loving forever homes for dogs rescued from the Korean dog meat trade. The longer term solution, however, is to change perceptions and cultivate compassion toward dogs in Korea. That is the main purpose of this documentary.

As we sow the seeds of compassion towards all living beings, we move one step closer to a world of peace and harmony for all.

Let’s Walk This Journey Together

We’ve been quite overwhelmed by the amount of support we’ve received for this project. I would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone, from major sponsors to individual supporters, for your moral and financial support for this important project. Together we will make a difference, and we are truly grateful for your support.

If you’d like to follow EK on her journey through Korea, you can subscribe for weekly email updates or follow us on Facebook and Twitter. To support the documentary, please consider making a donation.

I’m in daily contact with EK (today it will be to fix her laptop – sigh), so I’ll be posting regular updates as news trickles in. EK will also be posting dispatches from the field as she travels to rescue shelters, dog meat farms, meat markets to meet with key figures in the fight against the dog meat trade.

Let’s walk this journey together as we move toward a future of compassion for all living beings, one belly scratch at a time.

Dog Meat Farm Closing, 25 Dogs Going to Slaughter

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About a month ago I got an email from a couple in Korea. They asked if I could help them to rescue the dogs held in a dog meat farm near where they live. Every day they pass the dog farm and hear horrifying cries from the dogs. They have asked animal organizations and activists in Korea for help but no one has replied.

Many people say that there are so many dog meat farms in Korea. You cannot save every dog you see, so don’t bother. Well, yes we cannot save all dogs suffering in Korea but for those particular dogs crying out in horror right in front of you, how can you not step up? Isn’t it worth a try?

After exchanging several emails, I decided to meet the couple and discuss the possibility of rescuing the dogs. Finally I met them yesterday in Korea. They were very compassionate, humble, and courageous people. Their efforts to save the dogs deeply touched my heart.

At the moment, there are 25 dogs and about 8 goats at the farm. As you can see in the video, many of the dogs are very young. The good news is that the land owner has ordered that the farm be closed down by August. The challenge for us now is to rescue these dogs before the farmer sells them to the meat market. We are making a plan to rescue these dogs but need your support.

The farm is located right beside trails and people walking on the trails everyday hear horrifying cries of the dogs. However, it was so surreal for me to notice that no one stops or asks what is going on with the dogs in the dog meat farm, even those walking with their pet dogs. How ironic.

Meet These Adorable Rescue Dogs in Korea

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Each year over two million dogs are slaughtered by Korea’s unregulated dog meat industry often after enduring unbearable suffering. Especially during Bok-Nal through July and August, two-third of dogs are killed for Boshintang (dog meat soup). It is because many Koreans believe that Boshintang boosts their stamina and energy. That’s why it is often called a nutritious soup in Korea.

The dogs in the video were rescued last year just before being sold to the dog meat market. As you can see, they are beautiful and sweet dogs who deserve to be happy. Learn more about the Chicken Farm Dogs.

How to Help

I believe in the power of documentary films to change people’s consciousness. Right now I’m in Korea filming our new documentary, Compassion Soup: The End of Dog Meat in Korea. The goal of the film is to reconnect Koreans with their true compassionate nature and inspire them to end the dog meat trade. For that, we need to build understanding, empathy and compassion in Korea, and around the world, towards dogs and all beings.

If you are able, please support our documentary project. It’s one of the most powerful ways to make real change for the dogs of Korea.

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