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From CNN.com - Aug 3S. Korea's dogs find new champions (also published at The Korea Herald) Animal rights groups increase protests against dog soup By Shirley Han Ying For CNN Thursday, August 3, 2006 Posted: 0423 GMT (1223 HKT) http://edition.cnn.com/2006/WORLD/asiapcf/08/02/skorea.animal.protest/index.html SEOUL, South Korea (CNN) -- Animal rights organizations in South Korea are stepping up their campaigns to stamp out the traditional practice of eating "boshintang" -- dog soup -- during the hot and humid summer months. To highlight the pain and suffering endured by the animals when they are slaughtered, the Korean Animal Rights Advocates (KARA) last week held a street performance at Insa-dong in downtown Seoul. The performance, on July 26, portrayed the inhumane slaughter of dogs in a Korean traditional market known as the Moran market. During the performance, a huge bag containing the internal organs from slaughtered dogs was slit open by a butcher, spilling the gory contents onto the pavement. The mostly Korean audience gasped at the brutality of the scene. Artist Hassen Chung, who directed the performance, said the daily slaughter of dogs at the Moran market was "not a part of Korean tradition or custom." "It is purely and simply the most vicious act of violence that can (be) done to animals. This pernicious habit must end and disappear for good. There cannot be any more excuses for the existence of the market that has become the symbol of animal torture." Tiny cages Hyo-jin Kim, the director of KARA, told The Korea Herald newspaper that more than 3 million dogs are annually slaughtered for their meat in Korea. To keep costs down, the dogs are kept in tiny cages to minimize their movement, Kim said. The conditions under which they are kept cause unbearable stress to the animals, he added. KARA began its anti-dog-eating campaign in 2002. As dog meat is very popular in Korea, the group experienced a lot of difficulty in promoting the campaign. "There are many people that believe this campaign is an invasion of Western imperialism on Korean tradition," Kim said. "Those people are overwhelmed with such nationalism that even faced with logic on why dog meat should be banned, they choose to ignore it," she said. "There are also people that try to differentiate between dogs that are bred only for their meat and dogs that are meant to be kept as companion animals," Kim added. "Animal rights activists are tremendously outnumbered in a country where most people are ignorant toward animal protection." Founded in 2002, KARA began with a group of pet lovers seeking to change attitudes toward animals in Korean society and make South Korea a better place for both people and animals. On December 30, 2005, KARA was registered as a nongovernmental organization and now has some 7,000 members. KARA is focusing now on how to stop the South Korean government legalizing dog meat in Korea. The group has participated in several protest demonstrations and political actions against the "dog meat lobby." It has also submitted numerous petitions and research documents to South Korean government agencies and private organizations.  From CNN.comSeoul braces for 'red wave'World Cup fever reaches high as S. Korea cheers its teamBy Shirley Han Ying Monday, June 12, 2006 Posted: 0837 GMT (1637 HKT)
SEOUL, South Korea (CNN) -- A huge "red wave" is expected to engulf downtown South Korea's capital Tuesday as the nation kicks off its participation in World Cup 2006. Hundreds of thousands of soccer fans are expected to converge on the Seoul City Hall Plaza and nearby streets, as well as jam public bars and restaurants to watch the nation's first match against Togo. Many will be wearing red "Again 2002" T-shirts and singing "Dae han min kuk" (Great Republic of Korea) as they cheer on their national soccer team.
"We are expecting at least 200,000 and as many as 1 million people to come to Gwanghwamun and the City Hall Plaza to cheer for the Korean-Togo game," said Shin Ji-Hyun, a promoter for the events. "The nearby streets will be closed."
City organizers plan to set off fireworks to light up at the Seoul City Hall Plaza and at the World Cup stadiums in Seoul and Daejeon before the game begins and when the Korean team scores a goal.
Just a couple of days before the big game, Seoul was being soaked in torrential rain, but Shin was unconcerned about the weather.
"If it rains, people will come with their rain jackets. Koreans have been waiting for this for four years. We Red Devils are not afraid of rain!"
Since the beginning of May, several of Seoul's landmark office buildings, department stores and shop windows have been decorated with huge banners featuring Korean players or cheering slogans. National flags, soccer balls, head bands and other cheering accessories are to be found everywhere in the city.
Pubs, bars, night clubs and other entertainment places are banking on the World Cup fever as an opportunity to boost sales. Many of them have installed large-screen plasma Television screens and plan to remain open all night for diehard soccer fans. Some of them have started promoting various events and special offers to attract customers.
"We will offer everyone a free drink when the Korean team scores its first goal, and one hour of free drinks if Korea wins," said 45-year old Kang Shin-woo, the owner of the Orange Bar in Seoul's Haebangchon district. "We have installed a 100-inch screen to play every game," he said, adding that with people from at least 27 countries living within walking distance of the pub, he expects a lot of business.
Kang said during World Cup 2002 that was held in both South Korea and Japan he was in the United States and really missed the atmosphere that is now gripping Seoul.
"When I was in Chicago I had to go to a Mexican bar to watch the games."
A recent online survey by a leading local portal site Daum showed around 16.7 percent, or one in six South Koreans, plans to support the national team in public venues such as soccer stadiums, city plazas and bars.
Since South Korea's games are scheduled for either late night or early mornings, South Korean soccer fans will be suffering from the time difference between Germany and South Korea.
South Korea's first game with Togo will kickoff at 10 p.m. local time (1 p.m. GMT). The following two games with France and Switzerland will begin at 4 a.m., Seoul time. Many Koreans will stay up after midnight to watch the matches broadcast live from Germany.
"I will come to Gwanghwamun to support our team on Tuesday. The second game with France is at 4 a.m. but I [will] definitely be here," said 20-year old student Jeung Son-min.
'Red Devils' gears up for the World Cup The "Red Devils," ("Bulgeun Angma" in Korean) the official organization of hardcore supporters for the Korean national soccer team, has appointed about 400 members to lead the cheers at the games in Frankfurt, Hanover and Leipzig. They will fly to Germany in four separate contingents with the last group arriving by June 17th.
The Red Devils are highly organized and use the Internet and Korea's advanced phone technology to ensure a massive turnout at game-day events. With their unique cheering and unparalleled level of commitment to their team, the Red Devils are often described as the squad's 12th man.
Hope mixed with concern Koreans would love to see a repeat of 2002, when the World Cup hosts made it to the semifinals. The Red Devils at least are on track for a repeat of the images that thrilled global TV viewers, when about 2 million red-clad fans crammed the Seoul City Hall Plaza to watch their team's semifinal clash with Germany.
In a survey by the 21st Century Sports Forum, 88.3 percent of 1,094 Koreans polled believed that the national team will at least advance to the round of 16.
Among them about 25 percent said the team will reach the quarterfinals, while only 95 out of the total respondents thought the Korean team had any chance to bring the World Cup home.
Shin from the promotion agency said, "In 2002 confidence was very high, but this time maybe not so much," said promoter Shin. But then Shin added that the early morning streets of downtown Seoul will echo with enthusiastic chants of "Be the Reds," whatever the matches in Germany or the weather in South Korea brings in the coming days.
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