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On August 9, the Korean Veterinary Medical Association (KVMA) and the Korea Pet Guardians Association (KPGA) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) at the Veterinary Science Hall in Seongnam, Gyeonggi Province, to jointly promote animal welfare and companion animal care education.

The KVMA represents licensed veterinarians across Korea, advocating for the advancement of veterinary science and its contribution to public health and national development. The KPGA, meanwhile, is a nonprofit organization dedicated to improving the health and well-being of companion animals such as dogs and cats while supporting guardianship practices that foster happy, healthy lives together.

Through this MOU, both organizations committed to collaborating on a wide range of initiatives, including public education for pet owners and policy consultation with governmental and legislative bodies to help shape laws and regulations that support animal health and welfare.

As part of the event, the organizations jointly recognized “Hello, Meow” (야옹아안녕), a non-profit shelter based in Hanam, as an exemplary animal welfare organization. The shelter currently cares for over 150 rescued cats and actively advocates for humane feline population control through spaying and neutering.

In support of this cause, Hyojoon Lee, Co-CEO of Daewoong Pet, and Seungwon Jung, CEO of First Mover, donated pet food and nutritional supplements for cats, valued at approximately KRW 70 million (USD 50,000).

Also present at the event was Jaewoong Jung, Executive Director of the Korea Environment Corporation, who expressed his support for future collaborations to improve animal welfare and environmental protection.

A KPGA representative stated,

“We are committed to improving animal welfare and environmental sustainability. We hope today’s agreement becomes a meaningful step toward building a healthier, happier society for people and their pets.”

Dr. Juhyung Heo, President of the Korean Veterinary Medical Association, added,

“Social perceptions of animal welfare have improved, and with the end of dog meat consumption, we must now focus on policy development for those who are actively raising companion animals. As professionals, we will provide expert guidance and continue raising awareness, including at the upcoming FAVA 2024 Asia-Pacific Veterinary Congress in Daejeon this October.”