Businesses in Korea Reel From Fear of Avian Flu
New America Media, News Digest, Translated and compiled by Aruna Lee, Posted: Nov 19, 2005
SEOUL -- In the animated film Chicken Little, a courageous little chicken named Zach Braff becomes a hero when he rescues his brood and others from an alien invasion.
In reality these days in the age of bird flu, it’s hard to be a chicken. Chickens around the world are being slaughtered as fears of the H5N1 avian flu virus spread.
The deadly strain of avian flu has mainly affected birds, though nearly 70 human deaths have been attributed to the illness since 1997. The some 120 cases of human infection coming from poultry occurred mainly in Southeast Asia, and Thailand, Vietnam, Indonesia and Cambodia.
As a result, a large majority of poultry farms in Asia are losing business.
Korean poultry farmers have seen their profits decrease dramatically since the outbreak of the virus, according to Korea's Kukmin Daily.
Seok Nou Gil has operated his chicken farm in Korea for more than 30 years. Just recently he has had to dispose of more than 11,600 chickens. Adding to the loss, Gil says that he will also not be able to sell eggs. "Farmers like me have been destroyed by the media's overblown coverage," complains Gil.
Gil Jong Park, who also runs his own poultry farm, recently got rid of 12,000 chickens. "Normally I sell a 1kg chicken for US$1.50, but now it sells for only US$0.50."
Korean daily Kyung Hang news reported that Hyundai Insurance, Korea's largest insurance provider, has also begun offering Avian Influenza coverage. Large numbers of poultry companies have already applied for the protection, known as AI insurance, and this number is expected to increase. Two years ago 33 companies applied and 63 applications were received in 2004. So far in 2005, 42 companies have applied for the insurance.
Restaurants have also begun to see losses due to fears of bird flu. Along the southern part of the Han river in Seoul, there are more than 50 restaurants that specialize in chicken. Normally people will wait in long lines to patronize these restaurants, but these days there are many empty seats because of the fear of avian flu.
Many restaurant owners, however, have been unwilling to admit that bird flu is driving away business. "If I said that bird flu caused my business to go down hill, no customers would be at my restaurant in the future," said Mr. Kim, a restaurant owner in Seoul.
Hong Gun Yoon, president of a franchise barbeque chain is organizing a nationwide campaign to educate Koreans on the safety of chicken consumption. So far 40,000 chicken specialty restaurants and 4,000 poultry farms have signed on. "The poultry business has lost millions this last month because of bird flu." said Yoon.
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