An event to pay tribute to the animals used in medical experiments was held in front of the animal monument at the National Institute of Food and Drug Safety Evaluation. (Image : Yonhap)
CHUNGJU, Oct. 23 (Korea Bizwire) – An event to pay tribute to the animals used in medical experiments was held in front of the animal monument at the National Institute of Food and Drug Safety Evaluation.
The animal monument is a two-meter-high sculpture of a person holding a laboratory animal like a mother holds a child. In front of the monument is a small table with the food laboratory animals used to eat.
The animal monument is a two-meter-high sculpture of a person holding a laboratory animal like a mother holds a child. (Image : Yonhap)
Officials from the health and medical treatment fields paid their respects in front of the monument, and laid white chrysanthemums.
The start of this event paying tribute to laboratory animals dates back to the 1920s. In 1929, officials established a monument for lab animals to increase awareness of the meaning of respect for life.
Time has passed since then, but the event has continued for more than 80 years.
The Ministry of Food and Drug Safety is currently raising 10,000 animals of seven different species such as mice, guinea pigs and rabbits. The animals are injected with medication to evaluate the safety of food or medicine. Almost 30,000 animals die every year after being used in experiments.
Officials say that their practices are ethical and for scientific purposes only, and that they only use animals that have been approved by a lab animal committee consisting of veterinarians and officials from animal rights organizations. They also explained that to express their gratitude towards the animals that have lost their lives in the pursuit of science, they are continuing the memorial ceremony.
By Francine Jung (francine.jung@kobizmedia.co.kr)
