[NYT] An Island Marred by a Ferry Disaster and Sustained by Dogs

A photo from last year shows International tourists enjoying the ‘Jindo Dog experience.’ (Newsis)

[THE NEW YORK TIMES]  Jindo, at least before the ferry disaster, was known largely for one thing: its dogs. And Donji-ri is the most dog-famous village on the island.

Called Jindo dogs, they are South Korea’s most celebrated canine breed, famous for their loyalty and homing instinct. Islanders tell different stories about the dogs’ origins. Some say the animals arrived with Mongolian invaders centuries ago. Others say their ancestors kept domesticated wolves. They all remember that their grandfathers used the dogs, distinctive for their perked ears and tails, to catch mice at home and to chase pheasants and deer on the hills.

“Dogs are the pride of our island,” said Lee Seong-kyo, a Jindo official who runs a “Jindo dog theme park,” which houses a dog museum, a canine hospital and a training center. Each year on May 3, designated by the local government as Jindo Dog Day, the island hosts a Jindo dog contest. (This year, the show was canceled because of the ferry disaster.) [READ MORE]

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