[On-site Video] "Animals Also Have the Right to Be Happy" Animal Protection Group Urges 'Stop Abuse'

[Asia Economy Reporters Seunggon Han, Intern PD Hyewon Lim] "Animals also have the right to live happily without suffering!"

At 1 p.m. on the 10th, at Gwanghwamun Square in Seoul, the Korea Animal Protection Union and the Korea Vegetarian Union held a press conference urging the guarantee of animal rights in observance of "World Animal Rights Day."

The organizations explained, "Just as humans have the right not to be used as tools or means, we held this press conference to inform citizens that animals also have the right not to be used as tools or means."

Kim Hyesook, a member of the Korea Animal Protection Union, appealed, "Animals are not for experiments. Animals are not for fur. Animals are not for exhibition," adding, "Animals also have the right to live happily without suffering." She emphasized, "(Most importantly) it is not whether animals have reason like humans, but that they feel pain like humans."

Chairman Lee Won-bok of the Korea Animal Protection Alliance lying on the floor wearing a pig mask and shouting slogans. Photo by Hyun-joo Park phj0325@

On the same day, Lee Wonbok, chairman of the same organization, performed a demonstration covering a placard while wearing a pig head mask. Chairman Lee said, "On December 10th, World Animal Rights Day, I want to raise awareness that animals also have the right to live happily without suffering."

He continued, "We treat animals as objects, but animals are living beings with senses and perceptions just like us," and appealed, "We strongly urge you not to objectify animals but to treat them as precious living beings, and to respect and guarantee such animal rights."

Regarding the pig mask performance, he explained, "We conducted the performance to symbolize the deaths of sacrificed animals while asking that animals be treated not as objects but as precious living beings."

The animal rights organizations stated, "We plan to continue promoting not only animal welfare but also animal rights to many people and to encourage humane and ethical treatment of animals in our society." They added, "Through campaigns, we plan to work on changing social awareness and public perception."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.