Korean Vet News: Trends, Elections & Leadership Updates

Veterinarian 이상훈 (Lee Sang-hoon) has been elected as the new president of the Busan Metropolitan Veterinary Medical Association, officials announced February 7th. Lee, the head of Geumbit Animal Hospital, secured 44.7% of the vote, defeating candidates 이영락 (Lee Young-rak) and 천병훈 (Cheon Byeong-hoon) in a three-way race during the association’s regular general meeting held at the Busan Lotte Hotel.

The election saw a turnout of approximately 45%, with 161 valid votes cast out of 358 eligible members. Lee received 72 votes, while Lee Young-rak garnered 58 and Cheon Byeong-hoon received 31.

In his pre-vote address, Lee emphasized the need to address divisions within the association, stating that the organization had previously focused on serving only one side. He pledged to foster a more inclusive and communicative environment for all members. “For the past decade, the Busan City Veterinary Association has continuously looked only at one side, at our side,” Lee said, according to a report from DailyVet. “the opposing side emerged. The Busan City Veterinary Association must be reborn.”

The election of Lee comes as other veterinary associations in South Korea are also undergoing leadership transitions and addressing internal dynamics. The Seoul Metropolitan Veterinary Association is preparing to hold its 27th presidential election on February 1st, utilizing an online voting system, with 황정연 (Hwang Jeong-yeon) and 이태형 (Lee Tae-hyung) as the candidates. The Seoul association’s election process will mirror that of the Korean Veterinary Medical Association, according to a statement from the Seoul Metropolitan Veterinary Association’s election committee.

Meanwhile, the Seoul Veterinary Association recently reached an agreement among candidates regarding the election process, agreeing to fully respect the decisions of the election committee to ensure fairness and smooth proceedings.