Bull on bull in South Korean sport
In South Korea, the sport of bull fighting is just that. Two bulls fighting.
The brightly dressed, sword wielding matador famous in the Spanish version of the sport is no where to be found. Only bulls, duking it out until one gets tired and leaves.
Fans say the South Korean rendition is more humane.
(SOUNBITE) (Korean) COUNTY EXECUTIVE OF CHEONGDO, LEE JOONG-GEUN, SAYING:
"Spain's bullfight is between man and bull which assumes that man will defeat the bull. But Cheongdo's bull fighting is an energetic fight between two bulls and made a victory in a fair match. The game is over when one of the bulls gets weak and runs away. We're not abusing bulls at all."
The sport has a history dating back thousands of years.
Traditionally, the bulls would have been the prized possession of a farming family. And to this day, the animals and their owners develop a special bond. They even sleep in the same pen while on the road for competition.
(SOUNDBITE) (Korean) RANCHER LEE JIN-GU SAYING:
"I'm taking care of my bulls with more devotion than any parents would have towards their sons or daughters. Who would be able to sleep in this kind of pen for a week and work from dawn? It's a very hard job."
The fights can last anywhere from a few minutes to an hour or longer.
Either way both bulls go home alive.
Julie Noce, Reuters
The brightly dressed, sword wielding matador famous in the Spanish version of the sport is no where to be found. Only bulls, duking it out until one gets tired and leaves.
Fans say the South Korean rendition is more humane.
(SOUNBITE) (Korean) COUNTY EXECUTIVE OF CHEONGDO, LEE JOONG-GEUN, SAYING:
"Spain's bullfight is between man and bull which assumes that man will defeat the bull. But Cheongdo's bull fighting is an energetic fight between two bulls and made a victory in a fair match. The game is over when one of the bulls gets weak and runs away. We're not abusing bulls at all."
The sport has a history dating back thousands of years.
Traditionally, the bulls would have been the prized possession of a farming family. And to this day, the animals and their owners develop a special bond. They even sleep in the same pen while on the road for competition.
(SOUNDBITE) (Korean) RANCHER LEE JIN-GU SAYING:
"I'm taking care of my bulls with more devotion than any parents would have towards their sons or daughters. Who would be able to sleep in this kind of pen for a week and work from dawn? It's a very hard job."
The fights can last anywhere from a few minutes to an hour or longer.
Either way both bulls go home alive.
Julie Noce, Reuters
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