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The Internet edition of the French newspaper Le Monde reported Monday that Korean people are so crazy about dogs now that they not only keep them in the kitchen but in the living room as well. You will not be disappointed over the results you find when you type ¡°dog¡± and ¡°Korea¡± together into an Internet search engine, Le Monde reported.
Due to the traditional social cognizance that dog meat is good for the human body, Korean people have for some time enjoyed dog meat dishes. As a result, Korea has been strongly criticized by French actress Brigitte Bardot and animal protection groups, who have said things like ¡°Stop the brutal acts¡± or ¡°Don¡¯t kill dogs.¡±
Le Monde reported, however, that as single women in their 20s~30s or childless couples began to raise pets like Yorkshire Terriers or Chihuahuas as part of the family, the pet industry in Korea has been booming since the late 1990s.
In the streets of Myeong-dong where pet shops are concentrated, shampoo, fur dyeing substances, perfume, clothes, carpet, and gum for dog pets are displayed in a continuous row and dog groomers have become a new fashion career in Korea, Le Monde reported. The love for pets led to a pet fashion show being held in Korea in 2003. From dog funerals, which costs about 707 euros (W1 million) to birthday parties, pet dogs have added vitality into the lives of Korean people, Le Monde reported. Koreans' undying affection for pet dogs are increasing ever more through expanding Internet cafes for pet lovers, said the paper.
(Kang Kyung-hee, khkang@chosun.com )
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