On the 16th, a group of veterinarians held a rally opposing the opening of a pet health examination center (SNU Pet Health Examination Center; SNU is the abbreviation of Seoul National University) that utilizes the name of Seoul National University. It was reported that a brand-valued pet examination center would open, where current heads of teams from Seoul National University Animal Hospital would work, prompting veterinarians who had previously distanced themselves from protests to take to the streets.
The examination center explains that it does not pursue profit and only conducts health examinations without providing treatment. However, organizations such as the Korean Veterinary Medical Association and the Seoul Veterinary Medical Association have protested, claiming it is a form of 'intrusion into local businesses.' ChosunBiz investigated what the circumstances are.
◇SNU examination center "Collecting research data for non-profit purposes"
At 3 p.m. on the 16th, more than 30 veterinarians affiliated with the Seoul Veterinary Medical Association gathered in front of a building marked 'SNU Pet Health Examination Center' in Gwangjin-gu, Seoul. They wore masks that read 'STOP SNU' and held signs demanding the closure of the 'SNU Pet Health Examination Center,' yelling slogans like 'Seoul National University should reflect on itself.'
The controversy began last December. SNU Holdings, a subsidiary of Seoul National University, invested 300 million won in a company called SNU Pet, which received permission from the city of Seoul to establish an animal treatment corporation. Subsequently, a pet health examination center was built in a four-story building near the Dong Seoul Terminal in Gwangjin-gu, covering about 200 pyeong across two floors, and named 'SNU.'
SNU Pet explains that the examination center is operated on a non-profit basis, established to collect medical data across the entire life cycle of pets, providing only health examinations without treatment. The center's website introduces three veterinarians working there, two of whom are heads of teams from the Seoul National University Animal Hospital.
◇Veterinarian organizations "Intrusion into local businesses" "Non-profit corporation operating for profit"
Veterinarian organizations express concern that this examination center, utilizing the brand of Seoul National University, would impact small animal hospitals. Gwangjin-gu Veterinary Medical Association President Kang Jin-ho noted, "The pet health examination cost of the SNU examination center is not significantly different from that of small animal hospitals, and it will threaten the survival rights of nearby hospitals."
Veterinarian organizations also question the examination center's assertion of being a non-profit corporation. Lee Min-soo, a permanent member of the Seoul Veterinary Medical Association, said, "The examination center's actual nature is that a profit-seeking company has created a non-profit facade as an animal treatment corporation to evade legal scrutiny."
The Korean Veterinary Medical Association, in a document distributed last April, stated, "Due to the nature of animal hospitals, separating examination from treatment is nearly impossible," and questioned whether it is feasible to maintain an animal hospital with only health examinations. Ultimately, the argument is that they will likely engage in 'more lucrative' treatments.
The SNU Pet Health Examination Center, mired in controversy, was scheduled to open that day but did not proceed as planned. When visiting the center, the entrance was closed, and no staff were visible beyond the glass. Although the lights inside were on, no one answered the phone.
◇Pet owners "Trusting" vs "Too expensive"
Reactions from pet owners are mixed. A pet owner surnamed Lee, 32, said, "Some animal hospitals over-treat or charge excessively after providing treatment," and noted, "Since it is run by Seoul National University, I trust it."
On the other hand, a pet owner surnamed Kim, 25, commented, "I don't think I would use it as prices are tens of thousands won more expensive than typical pet health examination centers." The examination package prices at the SNU Pet Health Examination Center start at 975,000 won for dogs and can go up to 2.7 million won. In animal hospitals in Seoul, packages that include blood tests, X-rays, and ultrasounds are priced around 600,000 to 1 million won.