May 19, 2008

Chicken restaurants empty out in South Korea on bird flu fears

Restaurants famous for serving chickens have emptied out in the Korean capital due to bird flu fears, The Korea Times reported.

Two outbreaks in close succssion in recent weeks in the capital, Seoul, have prompted the government to order a culling of all poultry in the capital. However, chicken imports from other provinces are still allowe.d

President Lee Myung-bak and many top government officials ate samgyetang in front of the cameras in a gesture to ensure the public of the safety of boiled chicken. But most citizens are staying away from dishes made of chicken, duck and any other bird-related foods.

Despite its recent moves, the government said that it is safe to eat boiled chicken and ducks. Still, consumers are staying away. 

Seeing chickens and ducks killed and buried every day on television does not exactly  stimulate the appetite for chicken, consumers said.