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| ▲ This file photo shows two cows competing each other at the 33rd "Uiryeong Korean Folk Bull Strength Contest" held on the 10th. (Yonhap) |
SEOUL, June 12 (Yonhap) -- A Korean traditional folk game “Bullfight competition,” in which two cows face each other’s horns and measure a strength, will be held after changing its name to “Bull strength contest.”
Uiryeong city in South Gyeongsang province changes the name of “Bullfight competition,” one of the representative local events, into “Bull strength contest.”
The purpose is to relieve the negative nuance arousing from the term “fight” and to let people approach to the event without aversion.
The “Korean Folk Bullfight Association” also changes its name to “Korean Folk Bull Strength Contest Association.”
The Uiryeong branch of Korean Folk Bull Strength Contest Association explained that the decision was made not because they were conscious of some criticisms about animal abuse, but because there has been a continuous discussion about keeping up with the changes of the era.
The Ministry of Food, Agriculture, and Rural Affairs also recently gave permission to the change of the name, which made “Bullfight competition” change its name to “Bull strength contest.”
Though the association commented that they were not conscious of the issue, but they seem to look forward to the change of negative public opinion on Bull strength contest through the decision.
Since now, animal protection groups have argued that it is a huge pain for cows to have a competition, because they are docile herbivorous animals who do not fight with other species in nature.
It is the animal protection groups’ stance that the abolishment of bullfight competition is necessary since cows have been significantly damaged during the nurturing process and the bullfight.
However, the association refuted that they are not abusing cows because they have restricted the size of horns and given enough break for cows to keep up with the changes with regard to animal rights.
Ha Wook-jae, the director of the Uiryeong branch of the association, emphasized that “Cows can be hurt sometimes when horns crash into each other, but it happens only once or twice out of 10 games,” adding, “Since the game purely focuses on measuring the strength, it is in fact far from the exaggerated concern of the public.”
Director Ha also said, “The owners of the cows are people who truly love their cows to the point they could make a gravestone when their cows die,” adding, “It is heartbreaking when people got the competition wrong.”
(This article is translated from Korean to English by Kim Jimin.)
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