Bardot gets a roasting by Koreans
Published: 05 Jan. 2003, 20:49
Miss Bardot had aroused Korean ire not only by her opposition to eating dog meat but by hanging up on a talk-show host, MBC's Sohn Suk-hee on Monday. By international telephone, he asked if Miss Bardot was aware that some Westerners visiting Korea have tasted dog meat. She replied that Mr. Sohn was lying and cut off the conversation.
It was her second battle of words with Mr. Sohn. When he interviewed her Nov. 28 on the same program, the actress insisted that Korean were "savage" people to raise dogs for food.
Angry radio audiences lighted up the network's bulletin board, upbraiding Miss Bardot for refusing to acknowledge cultural distinctiveness.
In Tuesday's appeal, Miss Bardot said that she was disappointed that Koreans had misunderstood her. She stressed that she opposes any cruelty to animals, including European practices of eating horsemeat, bullfighting and hunting. But she said it was nonsense to justify a savage custom under the disguise of cultural relativism. She said she hoped that not every Korean would neglect the pains of the butchered dogs, and that only Koreans can stop barbarious acts.
by Ahn Hai-ri
with the Korea JoongAng Daily
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