Ep. 42: Annie Ko (INTERVIEW) - "The Dog Meat Ban in South Korea & Dogs as Meat vs Dogs as Pets"

In this episode [no. 42], we speak with musician, dog lover and activist Annie Ko about South Korea's recent announcement to ban dog meat consumption and the existence of dog meat farms - of which there have been apparently 10.000+ in South Korea - and her experience & involvement with the various organisations which have been doing their best to raise awareness and rescue dogs from such farms.

As a bit of background, in January 2024, South Korea passed a law which bans dog-meat & therefore the capture, killing and supplying & selling of dogs to consumers for eating. So, essentially, a ban on the production, sale & the torture which leads to the consumption of Dog-Meat.

Annie explains about her experience of consuming dog meat, but also the origins of dog-meat and dog-eating in a once poverty stricken South korea and touches on the festival associated with dog-meat. We also chat about what can go on 'behind the scenes' of certain pet shops and pet owners in South Korea, the recent "Nureongi" documentary and its impact - a link to this documentary can be found below this description and Annie & Toby's beloved and rescued pet dog, Deejay!

Although a lot is covered in this interview with Annie it is clear that one of her more recently found passions is one of caring for dogs, including their adopted "Deejay the Dog" and of course her love of music and continuing to be one part of the Seoul-based electric rock duo Love X Stereo.

It's also clear that we’ve a long way to go in this world until we end cruelty across the board to living animals and sentient beings, but this focuses on man’s - and woman’s - best friends, DOGS!


[NOTE: As always, a version of this episode will also be available over on our fairly recently created @notsokoreanpodcast YouTube channel - please feel free to subscribe to that!]



FURTHER INFO
Details about subjects covered or touched on in this episode and recent ones can be found below.

The Guardian article:
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2024/jan/19/south-korea-dog-meat-ban

The Humane Society:
https://www.humanesociety.org/blog/korean-musician-who-adopted-meat-farm-dog-works-change-misconceptions-her-country

International: https://www.hsi.org

USA: https://www.humanesociety.org

Korea: https://www.instagram.com/hsikorea/

DoVE (Dogs of Violence Exposed):
https://www.dove-project.org

"NUREONGI" (full-length documentary film):
https://youtu.be/KBfSiE3m_4Q?si=xmlYVvmoPUXlP5rJ

Annie, Toby and Deejay / The Humane Society of the United States ("A visit to a dog meat farm changed their lives forever!”):
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mx-FsDo4Iyg

Related:
https://worldanimalsvoice.com/2021/06/18/south-korea-