In a significant step toward protecting animals and children, the city of Seoul in South Korea has officially banned the dissection of animals at elementary, middle, and high schools, according to the Korea JoongAng Daily.
Cutting open animals like frogs and fish used to be a common practice in classrooms in Seoul, but concerns over animal welfare and the potential harm it caused to students spurred legislative action.
In 2018, the Animal Protection Act was modified to restrict minors from performing dissections. However, dissections of cow eyes and pig hearts persisted in three schools as late as 2022, according to the education office.
Now, the city is drawing a hard line. The updated ordinance specifies that “dissections of animals and animal carcasses for educational purposes, experiments, or research cannot be conducted in accordance with the Animal Protection Act.”
While limited exceptions can still be authorized if approved by a committee, the overarching message is clear: education should not involve unnecessary harm to animals or children.
“A committee has been formed per the guidelines of the higher law, and we have once again emphasized to schools the importance of following proper procedures, especially regarding dissection practices as part of broader animal protection education,” a Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education official said.
A new provision also permits the inclusion of animal cruelty prevention education in other legislation.
By banning dissections, Seoul is prioritizing the well-being of animals and children over an outdated tradition — and setting an example for the rest of the world to follow. Lady Freethinker applauds this step forward and remains committed to ending dissection worldwide.
