FIFA barks at Korean 'animal cruelty'

Animal rights groups say the sale and consumption of dog meat is barbaric

ZURICH, Switzerland (CNN) -- FIFA, world football's governing body, has called on South Korean authorities to put a stop to animal cruelty in the country ahead of next year's soccer World Cup finals.

In a statement, FIFA President Joseph Blatter called on his vice-President, Korean Chung Mong-Joon, to take "immediate and decisive measures to put an immediate end" to the mistreatment of animals.

South Korea, the co-host of the 2002 World Cup with Japan, has been the subject of protests by animal welfare groups over the sale and consumption of dog meat.

The groups have threatened to boycott the World Cup unless government officials did more to stamp out the trade.

FIFA said it had received thousands of letters of protest over the mistreatment of dogs and cats in Korea.

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"Dogs, in particular, are tortured while being prepared for human consumption," the FIFA statement said.

In an open letter to Chung, Blatter said the practice damaged Korea's international image and that the World Cup was an "appropriate moment for Korea to show the world that it is sensitive to vociferous worldwide public opinion and that it rejects cruelty."

Chung, also a member of Korea's parliament and Co-President of the Korean World Cup Organizing Committee (KOWOC), said that a joint investigation had been set up with government officials to try and create a better system to prevent animal abuse.

Banned

The sale and consumption of dog meat was banned in the run up to the 1988 Seoul Olympics by officials worried at the unfavorable light that would be cast on South Korea's international reputation.

However, although officially illegal, dog meat is still widely available in the country.

Animal rights groups say dogs destined for the pot are often subject to unimaginable levels of cruelty; kept in tiny, filthy cages, with cases reported of dogs being blow-torched to death.

Pain is traditionally said to improve the flavor.

Although it is expensive, the meat is usually served up in a soup or a spicy stew and is particularly popular with old men in the belief that it boosts virility.

Advocates of the dog trade say it is an important domestic tradition and that Korean dog meat lovers consume dogs that are bred for eating, not as pets.