Bo-shin-tang, a soup most often made from dogs, is a popular dish throughout Korea and most of Asia. The soup is sometimes made from chicken as well, but the difference between the meat is obvious: dog meat resembles roast beef, and is very stringy and chewy compared to beef or chicken. Its color is a remarkably consistent light brown throughout. The soup's name translates to "a soup that is healthy for your body;" with "bo" meaning "protecting", "shin" meaning "body," and "tang" meaning "soup" or "tonic." It is thought that the soup increases one's general heath and boosts sexual stamina.
Animal right's groups from the west flipped their proverbial lids over the consumption of dog meat not only because dogs are cute, but because the dogs are often tortured to death. Torturing the dog is supposed to increase the health benefits of eating the meat. Theories as to why this is so abound, but the release of adrenaline during the dog's prolonged slaughter is most often cited. Although this practice is by no means limited to Korea, Korea was the target of several animal rights groups who had heard about dog soup just prior to the 1988 Seoul Olympics. In response, the government banned the sale of dog meat, but the law is now entirely ignored.
Some animal rights groups claim that the dogs are often burnt alive, but this is not so. The skin of the dog is served with other cuts of dog meat alongside the soup; burning the animal would ruin the skin.
The meat served as a side dish is eaten with a sauce made from crushed sesame seeds, fresh ginger, garlic, red pepper paste, sesame oil, and soy sauce. The ingredients are typically delivered and the sauce is made by the customer with the desired proportions.
Although it is served hot, and is a spicy dish, bo-shin-tang is most often consumed during the hottest time of the summer as the older generation of Koreans believe that its health effects are greatest when one's body is sweating.
Its can be argued that the poularity of the dish has declined as newer generations of Koreans are aware of the (generally) negative view of the dish in the west, and are less likely to believe that its health benefits exceed those of any other meat.