Minister participates in virtual adoption, other interactive programs at Seongsu-dong pop-up store

Ministry signs MOUs with four universities on public veterinary cooperation

Agriculture Minister Song Mi-ryeong delivers remarks at the opening ceremony of "Oneureun 1004" (Today Is 1004), a pop-up store marking the second Animal Protection Day, in Seongsu-dong, Seoul, on Friday. [Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs]
Agriculture Minister Song Mi-ryeong delivers remarks at the opening ceremony of "Oneureun 1004" (Today Is 1004), a pop-up store marking the second Animal Protection Day, in Seongsu-dong, Seoul, on Friday. [Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs]

Agriculture Minister Song Mi-ryeong said rooting animal welfare in society requires not only laws and systems but also empathy toward animals and everyday acts of practice.

The Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs said Song attended the opening ceremony Friday of "Oneureun 1004" (Today Is 1004), a pop-up store held in Seongsu-dong, Seoul, to mark the second Animal Protection Day. The event was designed as an interactive experience to help the public engage with the meaning of animal welfare and related policies, and to translate that empathy into daily action.

Song took part in a range of hands-on programs, including a virtual animal adoption and registration exercise, a session on handling pet emergencies, and an activity on identifying animal-welfare-certified eggs. She also signaled the ministry's intent to strengthen policy support so that public interest and participation can translate into everyday animal welfare practices.

The ceremony also included an awards presentation for individuals who have contributed to animal welfare and winners of a related contest. The ministry signed MOUs with four universities — Kangwon National University, Chungbuk National University, Chungnam National University and Chonnam National University — to cooperate on public veterinary medicine.

"Animal welfare can truly take root in our society only when laws and systems are accompanied by empathy — understanding things from the animal's perspective — and small acts of practice in daily life," Song said. "The government will back the public's efforts with policy and systems so that those practices can grow into a culture where people and animals live together."


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