Dr. Kim,

As a man of science and a Christian, it is very disappointing that you would promote dog meat for cancer treatment and prevention based on an observation of only 2 people. You have stated in an interview with the S. Korean Newspaper, JoongAng Ilbo, published on 6/23/2012, that you recommend dog meat to cancer patients undergoing treatment and also as a cancer preventative and that when you observed 2 cancer patients, one who ate a whole bunch of dog meat had a better result from the treatment.

Over two million South Korean dogs are electrocuted, strangled, burned, or beaten to death each year killed in the cruelest ways imaginable because of the insidious myth that the more an animal suffers, the more tender and tasty the meat and that so-called medicinal properties will be enhanced. Medical doctors such as yourself are recommending dog meat to patients as a health remedy for all kinds of illnesses without any real scientific proof to support those claims. Thousands of cats are also slaughtered for soups and “health” tonics. While animal advocates within South Korea and around the world are trying to get the South Korean government to ban this horrific cruelty to the man's best friends, educated medical doctors such as yourself are doing a disservice to the patients who are desperate and willing to try anything to relieve themselves of their illnesses.  Dogs tortured, abused, terrified, sick, imprisoned in tiny disgusting cages, and fed rotten garbage all their lives can not be good for anyone, especially cancer patients, and this fact was exposed already through South Korean consumer TV programs.  Please retract your recommendation of dog meat as a part of cancer treatment and cancer prevention unless you can prove your claim other than the observation of 2 people.

While the practice of eating dogs and cats is not widely accepted in South Korea, it is crucial that the South Korean government ensures that it is completely eradicated. Caring citizens around the world, including South Koreans, cannot remain silent as dogs and cats are beaten and burned to death for a tastier meal and suffer agonizing deaths.

Dr. Kim,

Dog eaters and proponents of dog meat consumption use the excuse that the dogs that are eaten in S. Korea are different than the dogs we keep as pets.   This can't be further from the truth.  Dogs raised on farms in S. Korea for their meat are no different than any other dogs.  Dogs are dogs, and just because they were raised for human consumption does not mean they will suffer less.  Yellow dogs are known to be fiercely loyal to humans and highly intelligent.  They will make wonderful pets and loving and loyal companion if they are given a chance.  Also, in S. Korea, any dog can end up in the meat market.  Sick dogs, old dogs, puppies, pure breeds, small dogs, abandoned dogs, and even former pet dogs can all end up as meat and sold as "Boshintang" (dog meat soup) or "Gaesoju" (dog elixir).

As a respected person of science and medicine, please do your part in this critical issue by only making the claims that can be scientifically proven and help ban the selling and killing of dogs and cats for food and medicinal products. If not for the compassion, for the sake of your country’s global image.

Sincerely, 

South Korea's Dog Meat Industry (Click the "CC" button on the bottom right corner of the screen for an English caption):

http://youtu.be/xTZ_Ln_ywR4  (Part 1)

http://youtu.be/iAIE9OaH37c  (Part 2)

http://youtu.be/hXe3GV0GOB4 (Part 3)

http://youtu.be/_JPYK3yTqWY (Part 4)