THE dog has been man’s best friend. They have brought individuals young and old a deep sense of happiness and unquestioned loyalty.
Dogs have become members of families, guarded homes, protected people, guided the blind and assisted police personnel in their works.
But there remain places in the world where some portion of the population have treated dogs differently. These are people that see dogs as mere toys, fashion statement, animals that are farmed for slaughter and food with medicinal value.
This is the scenario that young and successful Korean businessman Jung Yong Kim wants to change—one dog at a time.
Already successful with Arte Motivo, an interior decorative-lighting company he started with his sister four years ago, Kim now wants to start a business where proceeds will be donated to foundations that will give care to abandoned dogs.
“In Korea, 80 percent of dogs are abandoned. It is not a healthy environment. Dogs are being killed in Korea,” Kim said.
Dog days
Authorities in Korea have noted the rise in pet owners but at the same time, the challenges faced once the responsibilities of having a pet becomes overwhelming has led to an increase in the number of stray dogs.
National protection facilities takes care of stray dogs for only 10 days, with the hope that they will be adopted and taken to a new home.
But still, there have been reports, that some of the pet owners who could no longer take care of their dogs take them to places like the Moran market to sell them as meat or completely abandon them when unsold.
Then, there are the estimated 17,000-dog meat farms that are spread across South Korea, which, at any point, are said to contain 3 million dogs, which will be later sold for slaughter.
In captivity, the dogs are said to be held in wired cages without any proper care, until the day they are sold to be killed.
According to the International Aid for Korean Animals, annually, 2 million dogs are slaughtered for food in their country.
Most of the dogs being killed are during the Bok Nal festival, which happens between July and August.
It is a festival that happens during the hottest months of the year in Korea and where dogs are killed and turned to food specifically the boshintang soup, which is being believed to cool the blood. At most, 80 percent of the dogs are being killed during those months.
Trying to make a difference
Kim recalled that he and his sister grew up having a pet dog, which they cared for and loved.
“His name was Spring,” Kim recalled fondly. Today, Kim said he has dog named Maebong, which he said is a mountain name.
At 32 years old, Kim, who has a political science and Asian studies degrees from the University of California in Berkeley, can be considered as part of the young generation in South Korea that abhors the killing and eating of dogs.
Kim said he loves dogs a lot and the business he will start is specifically designed for their benefit.
At the core of his new business, which will still be under Arte Motivo, is the creation of high-end dog collars.
“We do not have any products for dogs before. We will produce dog collars made of silver this year, and next year there will be gold necklace for dogs,” Kim said.
He added that for this year alone, they are looking to come out with at least 1,000 100-percent pure silver dog collars and then expand it to 10,000 collars next year, which will include the gold dog collar option.
And Kim is not only looking within the shores of South Korea. He is looking to export the dog collars internationally.
“We want to make this available not just in Korea but also in the Philippines, Canada and the United States,” he said in explaining his plans to establish stores in those countries.
According to Kim, there will be initially four types of design for the dog collar that will be made available in stores in South Korea. It will then be sold online for dog lovers abroad to purchase.
Kim built his business acumen from his first job in a financial management position at the Hong Kong office of United States global management consulting firm Bain & Co.
Together with his sister Eun Young Kim, they have built the Arte Motivo brand to reach the European market, along with those in Thailand and Hong Kong. He said their brand would soon be introduced in the Philippines.
A first-time visitor
Kim recently visited the country for the first time. To him, the Philippines is still a blank paper that is waiting to be filled with notes.
He was here in the country initially for three days as a tourist and observed that the Ninoy Aquino International Airport was a very busy place and that the streets of Metro Manila were filled with so many cars and people.
Possessing the looks of a movie star, Kim also noted that hairspray and moisture creams are cheaper here in the country.
Kim said that, when he comes back again to the country, it will be all about businesses he can establish.
Image credits: Jimbo Albano