Country of origin Korea Higher classification Domestic pig | Scientific name Sus scrofa domesticus Rank Breed | |
 | ||
Similar Hanwoo, Jeju Black, Berkshire pig, Jeju horse, Large White pig | ||
Jeju black pigs named natural monument
The Jeju Black Pig (제주흑돼지/jeju heuk-doe-ji) is a breed of domestic pig found on the Korean island of Jeju-do. This is Korea's largest island and lies to the south of the country in the Korea Strait. It is a smallish pig with a black skin and smooth coat of hair. It has erect, unfolded, ears and a narrow snout.
Contents
As part of ongoing co-operation between North and South Korea, there is a project underway to build a pig farm in Pyongyang to breed Jeju Black Pigs. The equipment required (about US$160,000 worth) has already been shipped to North Korea from Jeju-do. A breeding stock of pigs is to follow when the farm is ready.
As food
The Jeju Black pig is said to have a unique taste quite distinct from other breeds of pig and forms the basis of some well-known local dishes. The pork is smoked over burning hay, allowing the smoke to penetrate the meat juices resulting in a flavour quite unlike regular pork and a meat that is somewhat chewier.
Until quite recent times, the pig was kept in order to dispose of human waste. They were housed in sites built below the outside latrines where their "food" was directly delivered (see pig toilet). This practice was still current in the 1960s but has now given way to more conventional feeding. Some commentators are adamant that this change has adversely affected the taste.