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Work in Korea (1989 -1996)
My sister, Sunnan Kum, became the first person in Korea to rescue cats and dogs and advocate for a ban on dog meat, as well as for the rescue of dogs and cats in Korea. I was living in the US at the time, and in 1989, she asked me to help her with an international campaign to stop the consumption of dogs and cats for human food. At that time, Korean attitudes toward dogs and cats were different. Some people kept dogs as pets, chained in the yard as guard dogs, and some dogs were hanged, beaten, and cooked as dog meat stew. Cats were not considered pets, but people treated them like vermin, much like how many people view rats today. Cats were trapped, slaughtered, and boiled as cat juice to drink as medicine.
In 1989, IFAW (International Fund for Animal Welfare) contacted us and met in Korea, investigating the Korean dog market, and visited my sister Sunnan Kum’s animal Sanctuary. In November 1989, IFAW invited me to London as an advisor to help with the most significant demonstration held during the visit of the Korean President to London. This campaign was the most effective and successful demonstration I have ever seen. The media was very helpful, and more than 2000 people, with hundreds of dogs, gathered with a music band marching from the Korean Embassy to the Prime Minister’s #1 Downing Street. It was most successful because the media played a significant role. The shocked Korean government promised to enact an animal welfare law and take action.
From 1990 through 1996, I was back in Korea helping Sunnan. With the support of the International Fund for Animal Welfare, we secured the passage of the first Korean Animal Protection Law in 1991. It was a superficial law and unenforceable, but it was better than nothing, considering the state of animal welfare at the time.
In 1992, we established the first Animal Protection Society as a non-profit organization registered with the Korean government. We attempted to collaborate with the government, national media, and the public directly to effect change, but encountered significant resistance. These changes were perceived as pressures from outside the country and clashed with deeply held, nationalistic attitudes. I understand the Korean attitude against foreign interference, as Korea has suffered many invasions as well as 36 years of Japanese occupation.
Meanwhile, to educate the Korean public, we published three animal reference books: “For Dogs and Cats” in 1993, “Loving Animals” in 1994, and “What You Can Do For Animals” in 1995. We distributed all three books to all school libraries at no cost. I also worked hard to educate people on the importance of spaying and neutering dogs and cats to protect them from cruelty and abuse. There was a lot of resistance from people, including veterinarians, who thought it was a cruel and unnatural practice at that time, but now it is much more common.
“For Dogs and Cats” “Loving Animals” “What You Can Do For Animals”
Spay/Neuter guide leaflet: 1993