Last week, South Korea announced at an International Whaling Commission (IWC) meeting in Panama that it planned to follow Japan's footsteps and use a loophole in the 1986 moratorium on commercial whaling to proceed with a scientific research program.
This drew immediate protests from many nations and environmental groups that suspect the plan may be a cover for commercial whaling.
Japan has for years cynically used a scientific exception to hunt and sell whale meat, using its immense capital to bribe the IWC to support its case.
Although Korea has grown economically, and may be able to financially find a loophole in whaling, Korea's intent to follow Japan's footstep would have been embarrassing.
Well... Recently, Korea heeded to international criticism decided against going ahead with the whaling program. Korea's Ministry of Food, Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries reported that Korea is reconsidering its plans. This is a massive relief.
Korea is now a G20 country, and one of the wealthiest economic powers in the world.
I am glad that Korea can live up to its status (unlike some other East Asian country that's an island, and speaks Japanese).
Scientific or not, whaling endangered species should not be allowed, and this goes for every country, no exception Japan.
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