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Moon Jae-in and his wife Kim Jung-sook pictured in 2018 holding puppies born from one of the dogs gifted by North Korea. Photo: South Korean Presidential Office Handout via Reuters
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South Korea’s Moon Jae-in to give up dogs gifted by Kim Jong-un in ‘regretful’ move for ex-president

  • The white Pungsan dogs are legally categorised as state property, but the ex-president took them to his personal residence after his term ended in May
  • Moon’s office said he was entrusted with the dogs under an agreement that has since fallen apart because of his successor’s ‘unexplained opposition’
South Korea
Reuters
Reuters
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South Korea’s former President Moon Jae-in said on Monday he plans to give up a pair of dogs sent by North Korean leader Kim Jong-un as a gift following their 2018 summit, citing a lack of support from his successor.
Moon has raised the white Pungsan dogs named “Gomi” and “Songgang” since their arrival in the South and took them to his personal residence after his term ended in May.

The dogs are legally categorised as state property belonging to the presidential archives, but Moon’s office said he was entrusted as their caretaker under consultations with the archives and the interior ministry, an unprecedented decision.

Happier times … North Korean leader Kim Jong-un shakes hands in 2018 with then-South Korean president Moon Jae-in at the border village of Panmunjom in the demilitarised zone. Photo: Korea Summit Press Pool via AP
The agencies had sought a legislative amendment to facilitate the move including financial support. But that effort fell apart due to “unexplained opposition” from the administration of incumbent President Yoon Suk-yeol, Moon’s office said.

“The presidential office seems to be negative towards entrusting the management of the Pungsan dogs to former President Moon,” Moon’s office said on Facebook.

“If that’s the case, we can be cool about it, as such an entrustment is based on the goodwill of both sides … though ending it is regretful given they are companion animals he grew attached to.”

Yoon’s office denied foiling the move, saying the agencies are still discussing and it has not played any role. According to a report in The Korea Times, it was Yoon who had initially recommended Moon keep the dogs.

Gomi gave birth to seven puppies in 2021, the newspaper reported, one of which the presidential couple raised while rehoming the remaining six with other families. Moon also plans to relinquish the puppy.

“Ex-President Moon has been raising the Pungsan dogs for a long time. He is very disappointed to return the dogs, especially at this time when Gomi went through surgery,” said his office on social media.

We believe that Presidential Archives will take good care of the dogs, but we hope they will also care for them emotionally
A statement from Moon Jae-in’s office posted to social media

“But he was comforted by being able to take care of them for six months more [after his retirement]. We believe that Presidential Archives will take good care of the dogs, but we hope they will also care for them emotionally.”

The Chosun newspaper reported earlier on Monday, citing unnamed government and parliamentary officials, that there was debate over whether to provide Moon with monthly subsidies totalling some 2.5 million won (US$1,800).

The interior ministry, which oversees the presidential archives, did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

An official at the Ministry of Government Legislation said it has not opposed the idea and the discussions are ongoing.

Additional reporting by The Korea Times

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