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2007 Seoul International Pet Expo
The public unveiling of KAPES
On December 15th and 16th nearly 100,000 people attended the Seoul International Pet Expo, the only trade show in Korea dedicated to the pet industry. The Expo was organized by four pet organizations and had the official support of the Korean Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry. Utilizing a colossal 85,550 square feet of exhibit space were hundreds of relevant exhibitors, among them the Korea Animal Protection and Education Society, or KAPES.
Eight volunteers labored without break for ten straight days to prepare the KAPES exhibit. Among these volunteers were KAPES president (and IAKA South Korea representative) Hae-sun Park and KAPES trustees Lee Ho-yong and Kwon Sun-woong. They were supported financially by both IAKA and Hae-sun Park.
Drawing on the artistic prowess of one of the volunteers, four attractive brochures, a calendar and display materials were produced. For ultimate accessbility and impact the brochures made use of attractive illustrations to explain spay/neuter, dog care, cat care, and KAPES. The calendar was sold to fundraise and featured photographs of stray dogs and cats rescued by KAPES members and included their stories.
The calendar was a particularly big hit because it showed just how cute and cuddly a stray animal can be once rescued and properly cared for, and this is still a novel concept to most Koreans. Some even shed tears reading about the horrible conditions from which the animals were saved. Adoption of a stray animal suddenly became a viable and good option. This simple tactic exemplifies the new education-based approach IAKA is taking to change Korean perceptions of pet animals.
It is estimated that 20,000 people visited the KAPES exhibit. An impressive 8,300 brochures were handed out and another 1,200 will be mailed out at the request of Expo attendees. Approximately 900 people signed up as KAPES members and received gift tote bags which included pet food samples donated by CATREP and Nutro Natural Choice. Some of the donated pet food was also sold as part of fundraising efforts.
Additionally, KAPES took a survey of 1523 people in order to get a general understanding of how Koreans feel about the adoption of stray animals, joining animal organizations, and the new Animal Protection Law. A much larger survey along similar lines is being considered for the near future. Such a survey is a necessary first step to planning an effective educational campaign.
Hae-sun Park has expressed great delight at the reception given KAPES at the Expo. The large number of visitors who took informational brochures, signed up as KAPES members or completed the survey confirms the openness of Koreans to new ideas and their willingness to right societal wrongs. The time is opportune for a comprehensive education campaign on issues pertaining to pet animals in South Korea. Fortunately KAPES has finally been given the ministerial stamp of approval. Much as IAKA has hoped, the newly elected government has the wisdom to sense the good that would come from an education campaign. The new president and his advisors have already shown themselves as supporters of KAPES. The spirit of cooperation will take Korean society farther and faster than ever before.