Comments@THE GUSS REPORT-In the nearly three years he has been a Los Angeles City Councilmember, David Ryu has been silent on the issue of inhumane living conditions at thousands of South Korean dog meat farms, where the terrified and tortured animals are eventually killed and eaten.
As constituents protested at the South Korean embassy in Los Angeles, Ryu looked the other way when they sought his assistance to confront the unconscionable brutality in the first-world country of his birth.
And last week, Ryu remained silent while partying at the Pyeongchang Olympics, which was likely the best opportunity he will ever have to be a leader on the issue, or to even make a simple condemning statement on the practice. As the first Korean-American elected to the legislative body of America’s second largest city, his absence from the games would have spoken volumes. Tragically, his silence speaks volumes, too.
But hey, it’s tough to beat free travel and accommodations. If you’re a politician.
Fortunately, there was an Olympian with a heart who will to make such a statement.
Gus Kenworthy was a skiing silver medalist at the Sochi Olympic games who did not bring home a medal from Pyeongchang. But he did not come home empty-handed: He actually went to one of those dog meat farms and brought home (just as he did in Sochi) one of its refugees.
And unlike Ryu, he spoke up in social media and NBC News.
Kenworthy’s statement on the abuse of these South Korean dogs explains what he saw, and what Ryu undoubtedly knows, but is lacking in courage to state:
“This morning Matt and I had a heart-wrenching visit to one of the 17,000 dog farms here in South Korea. Across the country there are 2.5 million dogs being raised for food in some of the most disturbing conditions imaginable.
Yes, there is an argument to be made that eating dogs is a part of Korean culture. And, while [I] don't personally agree with it, I do agree that it's not my place to impose western ideals on the people here. The way these animals are being treated, however, is completely inhumane and culture should never be a scapegoat for cruelty.
I was told that the dogs on this particular farm were kept in "good conditions" by comparison to other farms. The dogs here are malnourished and physically abused, crammed into tiny wire-floored pens, and exposed to the freezing winter elements and scorching summer conditions. When it comes time to put one down it is done so in front of the other dogs by means of electrocution sometimes taking up to 20 agonizing minutes. Despite the beliefs of some, these dogs are no different from the ones we call pets back home. Some of them were even pets at one time and were stolen or found and sold into the dog meat trade.
Luckily, this particular farm (thanks to the hard work of the Humane Society International and the cooperation of a farmer who's seen the error of his ways) is being permanently shut down and all 90 of the dogs here will be brought to the US and Canada where they'll find their fur-ever homes. I adopted the sweet baby in the first pic (we named her Beemo) and she'll be coming to the US to live with me as soon as she's through with her vaccinations in a short couple of weeks. I cannot wait to give her the best life possible! There are still millions of dogs here in need of help though (like the Great Pyrenees in the 2nd pic who was truly the sweetest dog ever). I'm hoping to use this visit as an opportunity to raise awareness to the inhumanity of the dog meat trade and the plight of dogs everywhere, including back home in the US where millions of dogs are in need of loving homes! Go to @hsiglobal's page to see how you can help. #dogsarefriendsnotfood #adoptdontshop ❤”
When I asked Ryu’s spokesperson Estevan Montemayor when, if ever, will Ryu speak up on behalf of these tortured animals, or take action to condemn the South Korean government for embracing the abusive practices in the way the LA City Council does on so many other issues, he replied, “I may have more information regarding dog meat. Let’s plan to chat more soon on that item.”
Ryu has no real reason for any further delay. The South Korean embassy in Los Angeles isn’t even in his Council District, thanks to Koreatown being sliced up by LA City Council president Herb Wesson, when he was challenged for his job in 2015 by Grace Yoo, a lawyer and former executive director of the Korean American Coalition.
And that should explain Ryu’s silence; his fear of losing the gig, and worse -- pissing-off Wesson, LA City Council’s diminutive kingpin -- rather than doing the right thing.
That’s the difference between the heart of an Olympian and that of politicians.
For those in Los Angeles who wish to help those dogs today, you can do so by visiting one of the local rescues that save the South Korean dogs, such as Sherman Oaks’ Animal Hope and Wellness Foundation, which also rescues local homeless animals. They are located at 14456 Ventura Blvd, Sherman Oaks, CA 91433. Its phone number is (747) 998-5568.
(Daniel Guss, MBA, is a member of the Los Angeles Press Club, and has contributed to CityWatch, KFI AM-640, Huffington Post, Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Daily News, Los Angeles Magazine, Movieline Magazine, Emmy Magazine, Los Angeles Business Journal and elsewhere. Follow him on Twitter @TheGussReport. Verifiable tips and story ideas can be sent to him at [email protected]. His opinions are his own and do not necessarily reflect the views of CityWatch.) Edited for CityWatch by Linda Abrams.
