In 2021, the number of animals used for research testing in South Korea reached a record high of 4.8 million. This trend of increased in South Korea cuts against the global trend of development and adoption of innovative, non-animal approaches—the New Approach Methodologies (NAMs). Despite its current reliance on animals, South Korea is actively involved in the pursuit of innovative approaches including organ-on-a-chip technology, organoids and computer-based modelling.