A waitress at the To Suk Chung, serving dog stew to a group of patrons, says she does not understand why so many people make such a big deal about eating dog and whale meat, considered traditional meals in South Korea.

Pak Suk-kyun does not sympathize with conservationists making pleas to ban the whale meat trade at The International Whaling Conference, just a few blocks from the restaurant, which specializes in dog stew.

Pak argues whale and dog meat are part of South Korean culture, and remembers, as a little girl, growing up and hearing her grandfather tell her there are 99 different tastes for whales.

In the past, animal activists, including many South Koreans, have criticized the country for its tradition of raising dogs strictly for consumption, claiming the animals are brutally beaten to death, rather than killed humanely.

Dog stew, a popular summertime meal, is said to provide men with vigor and the energy to combat the rising temperatures of the season.

Meanwhile, patrons and staff at The To Suk Chung encourage their critics to sample a bowl of the dish before knocking it.

Another patron, involved in the whale meat industry, says opposition only hurts Ulsan, once a thriving whaling port, economically.

In the past, conservation groups, like Greenpeace claim South Korean boats have been catching whales and declaring the catches accidental, an alleged ploy by crews to cash in on the lucrative whale meat trade.

Surprisingly, many patrons at the restaurant agree that if scientists can prove that a particular species of whale faces extinction, then steps should be taken to protect it.

Dog stew is prepared many different ways in South Korea. The house specialty at the To Suk Chung is dog meat served with leeks and aromatic herbs; the meat is then dipped in spicy Korean soybean paste, ginger, and more aromatic herbs.

A pot of stew sells for $13 a person.