Click to read: http://koreandogs.org/response-from-busan-bukbu-office-of-education/ The Busan Bukbu Office of Education sent official correspondence to both the Busan Bukgu District office and the Busan Bukgu Police on April 28th, 2014 demanding that the Busan Gupo Livestock Market (also known as the Gupo Dog Meat Market) be relocated for being in violation of the School Health Act (http://koreandogs.org/dispute-over-the-gupo-livestock-markets-violation-of-the-school-health-act/). The Busan Korea Alliance For the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals also filed numerous civil complaints regarding the violation of the School Health Act and various other laws by the Gupo Dog Meat Market. In their response issued in October 2014 (http://koreandogs.org/busan-buk-gu-district-response/), the Busan Bukgu District Office stated that the Gupo Dog Meat Market is not subject to Article 6, Paragraph 1, Subparagraphs 1, 5, 7, 8, and 11 of the School Health Act and therefore no administrative action or removal was required. No comment was issued as to why the District Office deemed those provisions of the School Health Act not to be applicable. In response to the Busan Bukgu District’s disregard for the law, in December 2014 we launched a campaign of letter writing directed towards the Korean Minister of Education and Minister of Health & Welfare. We requested statements on their official position regarding the actions of the Busan Bukgu District Office with regard to the Gupo Dog Meat Market. However, a response dated January 1, 2015 came not from the offices of the Ministers of Education or Health & Welfare, but from the Busan Bukbu Office of Education, and was almost identical to the response of the Busan Bukgu District Office. Below is the translation of the response received from the Busan Bukbu Office of Education: ---- Busan Metropolitan City Bukbu Office of Education To: Koreandogs.org (PO Box 60191, Sunnyvale, CA 94088, USA (Via) Regarding: Response to your petition through e-People(www.epeople.go.kr) Following is our response to your petition through e-People. 1. Thank you for your interest in the school educational environment. 2. Please note that each of the provisions of the School Health Act‘ Article 6 does not apply to the dog meat market inside the Gupo Market (Businesses that are not applicable to School Health Act) and therefore it is not subject to administrative action or removal. The End. ------------------------------- Why did the Busan Bukbu Office of Education contradict their initial demand that the Busan Gupo Dog Meat Market be relocated for violating the School Health Act? Was there pressure from the Ministries of Education and Health & Welfare, or a governmental agency with more power and authority? Did they give in to demands of the local government trying to protect the interests of the Gupo dog meat butchers? Regardless of the reason, their change in position demonstrates an outrageous contempt for the health of the Dugchun Elementary School children who have to walk past the meat market on their way to school every day and witness the horrendous cruelty perpetrated there. The unconscionable indifference and neglect of duty displayed by the Busan Bukbu Office of Education not only places these children in harm’s way, it is also responsible for the unimaginable torture and brutal slaughter of the dogs at the meat market. We insist that we be given a clear explanation by the Busan Bukbu Office of Education as to what made them change their position and by what means they concluded that the provisions of the School Health Act‘s Article 6 do not apply to the Gupo Dog Meat Market. We will begin a new letter writing campaign today to Superintendent Gwon Eung Hwan of the Busan Bukbu Office of Education requesting his official response. This issue is too important and urgent to allow him to ignore it. Click to take action! http://koreandogs.org/response-from-busan-bukbu-office-of-education/ Please call the S. Korean Embassy and Consulate General Offices in your country today and speak out against this terrible injustice! You can use your own words or our sample message. http://koreandogs.org/what-you-can-do/contacts-for-protest/call-south-korean-embassy/ Thank you! Koreandogs.org Compassion Through Action Homepage: http://koreandogs.org/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/koreandogs Twitter: https://twitter.com/Koreandogs Petitions: http://koreandogs.org/petitions/ Call for Action: http://koreandogs.org/what-you-can-do/call-for-action/ Donate: http://www.gofundme.com/rescuekoreandogs