Domestic Animals of Korea
Explores the traditional domesticated animals of Korea.
Location: North Korea; South Korea
Food Livestock of Korea
Korean farmers often had little land to work with, given the country's mountainous terrain. Most chose to raise crops instead of livestock, meaning their diets contained relatively little meat. Cows, pigs, and chickens were, however, all common sights in early Korea. Oxen in particular were popular as draft animals. Dogs were commonly raised for food. Sheep and goat meat were primarily reserved for medicine. Chickens and eggs are now a major part of Korean cuisine.[1]
Korean Horses and Oxen
Horses played an important role at all levels of Korean society until the Joseon Period. Early rivalries with the Mongolians and Chinese pushed Korean warriors to master mounted combat. The militaries of the Three Kingdoms and Goguryeo dynasties specialized in mounted archery. Horses grew obsolete in warfare with the spread of firearms.[2] By the late Joseon, only the yangban kept and rode horses regularly. The equestrian tradition of Korea continues today on Jeju Island, famous for its hardy ponies.[3]
Oxen were the draft animals of choice for peasants. They pulled carts and plows, bore heavy loads, and sometimes carried people. Traditionally, farmers boiled the feed for their oxen and served them warm water. This care reflected the value and status of oxen within a family. In later centuries, donkeys became a cheaper, popular alternative.[4]
Other Domesticated Animals in Korean Culture
Like many other East Asian cultures, Koreans viewed cats with some suspicion. Folklore held that cats were creatures with demonic, vengeful tendencies.[5] Although dogs have historically been raised as food, they also served their masters in war, hunting, and defense. The Jindo dog, a mix of indigenous breeds and Mongolian imports, is the most famous Korean dog breed. Known for its devotion to its first owner, the Jindo is a hunting dog that requires an experienced and equally devoted master.[6]
Bibliography
Michael J. Pettid, Korean Cuisine: An Illustrated History (London: Reaktion Books, 2008), 24-28.
Choi Woun Sik, Modes of Transportation: Traditional Korean Society (Seoul: Ewha Womans University Press, 2007), 49-50.
Bonnie L. Hendricks, International Encyclopedia of Horse Breeds (Norman: University of Oklahoma Press, 2007), 118-120.
Hyun Ok Park, The Capitalist Unconscious: From Korean Unification to Transnational Korea (New York: Columbia University Press, 2015).
Isabella L. Bird, Korea and Her Neighbors (London: Murray, 1898), 98.
Kristin Mehus-Roe, The Original Dog Bible: The Definitive Source for All Things Dog (Irvine, CA: I-5 Press, 2013), 321.
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