>>> May 02, 2002
The paws that refreshes

As South Korea and Japan prepare to host the World Cup in Seoul, some curious preparations are underway to help narrow the culture gap for tourists. A national association of South Korean restaurateurs plans to set up shop outside Sangam Stadium and hand out free samples of dog-meat juice.

“They will enjoy it instead of Coke,” said association leader Choi Han-Gwon. “It will help us explain to foreigners the innocence of consuming dog meat.”

Choi says the “canned dog meat juice tonic” will be developed especially for the event, and hopes to recruit foreign volunteers to serve samples to the crowd. Some reports have claimed the association would be also be serving dog meat burgers, but Choi denies this, explaining the association is trying to avoid sensationalism or excessive publicity that could bring a government backlash. During the 1988 Olympics, dog restaurants were ordered closed or removed from public view. :

—Scott Saxon