New ordinance protects students’ mental health and animal-folk welfare in Seoul, South Korea.

The Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education prohibited the dissection of animal-people and their carcasses in elementary, middle, and high schools, effective at the end of March 2025. The ban follows the South Korean government’s revision of the Animal Protection Act (Act) in 2018, which prohibits youth from conducting animal-person dissections due to ethical and psychological concerns. The new ordinance explicitly prohibits dissections for any purpose, as some schools have continued to dissect animal-folk, such as frog-fellows, despite the Act’s amendment. It also has a component about integrating animal cruelty prevention education into broader curricula. The Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education is urging schools to strictly adhere to the law. Seoul is a Shining World Leadership Award for Protection laureate.

Our hats off, Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education, for your compassionate decision benefiting both our precious youth and animal friends. May your shining example inspire cities around the world to implement more animal-citizen protection laws, in Buddha’s Benevolence.

Supreme Master Ching Hai (vegan): “Gratefully present the Virtuous Government Shining World Leadership Award to Seoul and the Government of South Korea with High Esteem and Praise for your loving law that protects the helpless, meek, and harmless innocent frog-people, with tears of thanks and gladness. By God – Grace, may your country go ever forward with Blessed Grandeur. Love Korea.”