Dog Meat Dog Breed

The so-called dog-meat dog is called Nureongi or Hwangu, which means yellow dog. These dogs are considered a kind of "livestock" breed. However, they are just like any other dog. It should also be noted that any dog from any breed can end up as dog meat.

Amount Slaughtered

An average figure is around 2.50 million dogs.

In 2002 - 2.95 million dogs

In 2005 - 2.31 million dogs

Amount of Dog Meat Consumed Annually

Around 100,000 tonnes.

Around 93,600 tonnes is supposedly used for making tonics.

Number of Dog Meat Restaurants

Had to get a definite figure. In 1998 there were 6,484 registered. Sources often say around 4,000 to 6,000. However, an estimate of the actual number restaurants is around 20,000.

Percentage of Population Eating Dog Meat

Figures vary widely. A small percentage would eat it regularly. This would be people in the older age bracket. Some say around 30% of Koreans have tried it, while others say around 60%. Another survey found that 42% of respondents ate dog meat.

Koreans For and Against Dog Meat Eating

Inconclusive. According to one source, a Ministry of Agriculture survey found that 59% of under 30-year-olds would not eat dog; 62% of under 30-year-olds regarded dogs as pets and not food.

In one survey, around 85% of people surveyed did not think dog eating should be eradicated (this figure is arrived at by added together the 42% dog meat eaters and 43% non-dog meat eaters in the survey that supported dog meat eating). This figure seems dubious.

In Journal of Social Issues, Vol. 65, No. 3, 2009, pp. 615--632, it shows survey results on the attitudes to the uses of dogs. "Respondents were in favor of using dogs as pets or companions (60% tended to or strongly approved), but themajority were against the use of dogs as food for humans (55% tended to or strongly disapproved). Pet owners were not significantly more likely to disapprove of using dogs for food than nonpet owners (58% compared with 53%, respectively)."

So, the majority of Koreans are against it but not by a large margin.

Main Dog Meat Dish

Bosintang, it's a kind of soup dish with chunks of dog meat.

Three Main Dog Meat Days

Chobuk, Sambuk, and Malbok.

These are based on the lunar calendar and supposedly coincide with the 3 hottest days of the year. They're around the end of July and beginning of August.