Although the article I have been working on for the past few days deals with the concept of time, what better way to support what I am about to express than by bringing to the Diary a piece from the celebration of Satoricha.com’s anniversary, which concluded on August 31? Yet, it demonstrates that, although paper can bear everything, reality is not always as we wish.
The same goes for the oft-discussed topic of distribution and value chains, which, if we are lucky, we might understand at some point in our lives; otherwise, we are likely to overlook them, not by choice but by omission.
How can we address something we do not know, and that we unknowingly suffer from?
Distribution and value chains exist everywhere, and we are all part of them. To support this premise, rather than exploring the backstory of a consumer product, why not learn about the backstory of our ecosystem?
Therefore, this week's special guest is Yak-gol, co-representative of the marine environmental organization Hot Pink Dolphins.
Hot Pink Dolphins is an organization dedicated to marine conservation, founded in South Korea in 2011. It was the first in the country to initiate the movement for the liberation of captive dolphins, successfully returning eight illegally captured southern minke dolphins to the waters of Jeju, where they had previously been forced to perform in shows. In 2018, the organization established the Jeju Dolphin Center to monitor how the dolphins adapted and thrived after being returned to the ocean. Hot Pink Dolphins conducts various activities to protect endangered whales and dolphins and ensure they live healthy and free in the sea (Yak-gol, 2025).
While preparing the questions for this interview and reflecting on the anthropocentric reality in which we live, where we claim to be sustainable, responsible, or traceable (always under the convenient "I wasn't responsible" lens), many of these labels sound appealing in speeches, campaigns, or packaging, but rarely reflect the true ethos of a company.
While these terms dissolve among promises and labels, we continue to act under a logic that places humans at the center, as if the world belongs solely to us and other species exist only to serve us, without any responsibility. I asked myself: Are organizations like Hot Pink Dolphins essential in our context?
Yak-gol (2025) believes that Hot Pink Dolphins' activities are indeed essential. Humans have long viewed the ocean merely as a resource to exploit. From the human perspective, marine creatures have been considered simply "entertainment," "attractions," "food," or "sources of income." In South Korea, the hunting of all types of whales and dolphins has been banned since 1986. Nevertheless, for years, dolphin entertainment companies illegally captured dolphins from Jeju's waters, keeping them in small tanks and forcing them to perform. Although illegal dolphin capture has ceased, there is still flawed legislation in Korea that allows the sale of large whales, such as fin whales, which are unprotected, if they are accidentally caught in fishing nets. Since many people still consume whale meat, the fin whales caught in nets are sold at high prices. Numerous media outlets and fishermen even refer to these deceased whales as "the sea lottery." Given this context, Hot Pink Dolphins' efforts to protect whales and dolphins are absolutely indispensable.
If you have read other articles in my Diary, particularly those featuring special guests, you will know that I always try to ask the right questions, even if they are incisive, and this time was no exception.
I asked Yak-gol: What led you to get involved with Hot Pink Dolphins?
He responded without hesitation:
I am Cho Yak-gol, activist and co-director of Hot Pink Dolphins. For approximately 30 years, I have been involved in peace movements against military bases, as well as various struggles for human rights and environmental causes. In South Korea, where mandatory military service applies, most men must serve in the army.
Additionally, nationalism and machismo are deeply rooted, creating a highly militarized society. South Korea also hosts numerous U.S. troops and bases. My focus has been primarily on anti-militarism activities.
At one point, the Korean government announced the construction of a large naval base in Gangjeong, Jeju, despite local opposition, and began construction forcibly. In July 2011, I happened to see a group of southern minke dolphins swimming slowly in front of Gangjeong, where the base would be built. Witnessing them living freely in the sea profoundly moved me. I realized that the struggle against the naval base and the protection of the dolphins’ habitat were interconnected.
That’s how Hot Pink Dolphins was born, dedicated to protecting the marine ecosystem. Although the construction of the Jeju naval base ended in 2016, the southern minke dolphins continue to inhabit its waters. That is why we continue to work to safeguard their remaining habitats (Yak-gol, 2025).
Psst… Note: From this point forward, rather than maintaining a conversational style, you will read the questions and answers as they were formulated, to preserve the integrity and purpose of the article. While some terms or concepts may be unfamiliar, these will be explained in the theoretical section of The Flavor Route. We will reconvene in the conclusion and closing of the article.
Question: Why did the concepts of ecological legal persons and ecological corporations emerge? Do you see them as a necessary response to current environmental challenges or more as preventive measures for the future?
Context: This question considers the "shopping cart theory," which suggests that humans often act only when they perceive a clear reward or consequence. We would like to know whether these legal frameworks reflect this idea by motivating environmental protection.
Yak-gol: The habitats of the southern minke dolphins in Jeju are rapidly shrinking due to various coastal development projects, including the naval base construction, a new port, land reclamation, and offshore wind farms. Additionally, marine pollution and increasing marine debris, such as abandoned fishing nets, make it difficult for the dolphins to survive.
Currently, the dolphins are endangered in Jeju's waters. In response, we have initiated a campaign to grant legal rights to the southern minke dolphins. The idea is that if the dolphins have recognized rights, humans cannot fill their habitats, build naval bases or ports, or irresponsibly dispose of waste, thereby effectively protecting their environment.
Question: Some authors suggest that instead of proposing an anthropocentric, naturocentric, or biocentric perspective, we should seek a new ecological order that reflects current realities. What is your perspective on this idea?
Yak-gol: Anthropocentrism remains very strong in South Korea. When we talk about protecting dolphins, some people believe humans are more important and that protecting them is unnecessary now. That is why we always advocate that non-human beings are as important as humans.
Although not everyone understands what a new ecological order means, changing laws created by humans and granting legal rights to dolphins, it is effective to emphasize the values of "coexistence." Hence, we promote the idea of "Living together with dolphins."
Question: Humans have recognized individual rights, and legal rights have also been extended to corporations. Why do you think there is still significant resistance to granting legal rights to nature?
Yak-gol: This is because anthropocentrism is still strong. In the Korean judicial system, where rights have long been exclusive to humans, non-human animals such as salamanders, mountain goats, golden bats, or black-headed plovers have never been recognized as legitimate parties in court; if they attempt to be protagonists in a case, their claims are dismissed immediately. Even today, Korea's Civil Code still considers animals as "movable property." Therefore, non-human animals do not receive proper recognition as living beings. To break this erroneous anthropocentrism, it is essential to introduce ecological laws that grant legal rights to dolphins.
Question: Many people see natural resources primarily as goods for human use, reflecting an anthropocentric view. How can we foster a more holistic understanding of society as an interconnected system in which individual actions impact the collective, and of environmental protection as fundamentally linked to human dignity?
Yak-gol: We hope that the COVID-19 pandemic will help humans realize that the negative impacts of indiscriminate exploitation of non-human beings, the environment, and ecosystems ultimately fall on us.
More people are beginning to understand that humans are not the only essential beings on Earth, and if the environment is destroyed, the negative consequences will directly affect us. Through the campaign to introduce ecological laws, Hot Pink Dolphins seeks to convey that in an ocean where dolphins cannot live, humans cannot enjoy a healthy life either. In other words: "When the sea is sick, humans are sick too."
Question: Some authors base their ideas on the concept of a "good life" in relation to human rights. Do you believe it is possible to achieve a "good life" that considers both humans and nature? In other words, is there a natural balance between humanity and the environment?
Yak-gol: In an unhealthy ecosystem, humans can never experience a "good life." As the climate crisis intensifies, extreme natural disasters such as heatwaves, heavy rains, floods, wildfires, and severe droughts are becoming more frequent in South Korea. Humans are only a small part of the ecosystem. As the entire Earth suffers, agriculture in Korea is affected, causing a sharp rise in food prices. While the climate crisis continues, human quality of life cannot improve.
Question: When establishing the legal personality of nature and its agents, who should act as their representative or guardian, and why?
Context: Throughout history, governments, companies, and other entities have often disguised themselves as "sheep" while acting as "wolves." One of the first objections to granting legal personality to nature is likely concern over who truly represents its interests. How can we determine who should be trusted to act as its legitimate guardian?
Yak-gol: If ecological corporations were implemented in Korea and legal personality were granted to Jeju's southern minke dolphins, an ecological guardianship system would be established, whereby dolphins would exercise their legal rights through guardians. These guardians would include ecological experts, legal specialists, public officials, environmental organizations, and local residents. People with diverse positions and interests, including some representing human interests, would form part of this guardianship group.
In principle, the selection of guardians would fall under the authority of Jeju's governor. Many fear that with the implementation of ecological corporations, only the dolphins' interests would be prioritized; however, those representing human interests might be chosen as guardians.
Therefore, in the early stages following implementation, debates, confusion, and mistakes are expected. Nonetheless, the most important thing is that the ecological corporation system is established. Deficiencies can be corrected after implementation.
Question: What is your tea wisdom?
Yak-gol: The liberation of dolphins is the liberation of all. If not all are free, I cannot be free either. Even if we live in different places or speak other languages, the responsibility to create a world without oppression or violence falls on each of us.
Let us join forces. Let us fight together!
Up to this point in The Flavor Route, where we have explored topics such as consumer products, logistics, organizational culture, marketing, and, today, the importance of the environment, you may be wondering: Where is the flavor? What is its taste? If you did, you are on the right path.
In life, we should always ask mai ta‘amah: What is its flavor? What is the reason? What is the motive? It is like changing the question from "Why this?" (focusing on what happens to you or what occurs) to “Why me?” (Why does this idea arise within me? Why am I experiencing this?) Often, we focus so much on what is in front of us that we overlook the beauties at the periphery.
At the end of the day, what is the flavor of this life? Each of us is, in our own way, insignificantly unique.
Satoricha ~
References
Wagol. (2025, 10 23). Hot Pink Dolphins (Satoricha.com, Trans.) [Entrevista realizada a co-representante de Hot Pink Dolphins para la sección de LRDS] [Correo]. Hot Pink Dolphins.
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