Gyeongsang National University and Dongmyung University Site to Host Busan Branch of Animal Hospital

Gyeongsang National University, Dongmyung University, and Busan City Sign Agreement to Foster Pet Industry in Southeast Region

Innovative Ideas for Regional Balanced Development and Talent Nurturing... National Support Needed

Site planned for Dongmyung University Veterinary Hospital.

[Asia Economy Yeongnam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Choi Soon-kyung] Dongmyung University will establish the first university animal hospital in the Busan area.

Gyeongsang National University, which has a College of Veterinary Medicine, will build an animal hospital on the Dongmyung University campus in Busan. This is a super-regional cooperation project between local governments and universities to foster industries in the Busan, Ulsan, and Gyeongnam regions.

Busan City, Gyeongsang National University, and Dongmyung University signed a memorandum of understanding on the 14th to establish the "Gyeongsang National University Animal Hospital Busan Branch" on the Dongmyung University campus, with participation from all three institutions.

The establishment of the Busan branch of the animal hospital represents a new model of win-win cooperation among Busan City (local government), Gyeongsang National University (national university), and Dongmyung University (private university). It is a newly attempted project that draws attention for presenting a development direction for local universities and leading a change in perspective in an era of declining school-age population by collaboration among metropolitan local governments, national universities, and private universities.

This is the first domestic cooperation case that breaks down the boundaries among participating entities for regional industrial development and talent cultivation, serving as an innovative idea for national balanced development and fostering local talent. The project also requires administrative and financial support at the national level.

According to the College of Veterinary Medicine at Gyeongsang National University, there are 860,000 companion animal households in the Busan, Ulsan, and Gyeongnam regions, ranking second nationwide (16.6%). The Gyeongsang National University Animal Hospital, the only university animal hospital in the southeastern region, is located in Jinju, which has geographical limitations. It has been practically difficult to provide university hospital-level medical services for companion animals in the Busan and Ulsan areas, which are far from Jinju.

By establishing a university animal hospital in Busan that can provide 24-hour emergency and specialized care, the quantity and quality of veterinary medical services in the Busan and Ulsan regions will improve.

The Busan branch of the animal hospital is planned as a national treasury facility project (BTL) and will be carried out over three years from 2023 to 2025. The three institutions plan to submit a request for review for the establishment of the Busan branch of the animal hospital to the Ministry of Education.

On the 14th at 10 a.m., the three institutions signed a "Memorandum of Understanding for Cooperation in Establishing a University Animal Hospital in Busan" at Busan City Hall.

The signing ceremony was attended by Park Hyung-joon, Mayor of Busan; Jeon Ho-hwan, President of Dongmyung University; and Kwon Soon-ki, President of Gyeongsang National University.

In the memorandum, the three institutions agreed to ▲ jointly cooperate among Busan City, Gyeongsang National University, and Dongmyung University to establish a university animal hospital in Busan ▲ donate the Dongmyung University land to Gyeongsang National University for the construction of the university animal hospital ▲ cultivate local talent in companion animal-related departments as specialized veterinary medical personnel ▲ and continuously expand the exemplary model of cooperation between super-regional national and private universities.

The Busan branch of the animal hospital will be constructed with a total area of 12,500㎡, consisting of four floors above ground and one basement floor. The first floor will house the emergency treatment center, radiology center, and general treatment facilities.

The second floor will contain internal medicine treatment facilities, and the third floor will be equipped with various surgical treatment facilities including operating rooms.

The basement floor will be a radiation therapy center, which will be the second such facility established in a university animal hospital. The fourth floor will be used as research and educational facilities for student education and practical training.

The Gyeongsang National University Animal Hospital, which provides about 4,000 treatment services annually, plans to provide approximately 30,000 treatment services annually through the Busan branch.

In response to the rapidly increasing demand for companion animal medical care in the southeastern mega-city, it plans to provide core infrastructure for the companion animal industry and contribute to the promotion of companion animal welfare.

By establishing the Busan branch of the animal hospital, Gyeongsang National University will secure infrastructure for clinical research on companion animal pharmaceuticals and medical devices as well as experimental animals.

Based on this, Gyeongsang National University will collaborate with the anti-aging-centered health care industry of Busan City and Gyeongnam Province, conducting infectious disease research based on One Health and cooperating with various bio-industries. It will play a central role in the pharmaceutical and bio cluster.

Additionally, it plans to lead student education and the activation of the companion animal industry in the southeastern region by collaborating with related companion animal departments (such as Animal Health Science and Animal Feed Science).

Kwon Soon-ki, President of Gyeongsang National University, said, "Until now, national universities have established campuses beyond their home regions, such as Pusan National University's Miryang campus and Chonnam National University's Yeosu campus, as part of university integration to improve the efficiency of higher education."

President Kwon emphasized, "The establishment of the Gyeongsang National University Animal Hospital Busan Branch this time is of great significance as a model that adds a university location to foster and develop related industries necessary for companion animal care."

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