What Happened to the Pungsan Dog Gifted by North Korea's Kim Jong-un? Yoon Says "Former President Moon Should Raise It"

President-elect Yoon Currently Lives with 7 Pets
When Asked About Pungsan Dog, "If Given, I Will Raise It Well, But It Is Appropriate for the Previous Owner to Raise It as a Gift"

President Moon Jae-in is introducing Pungsan dogs Gomi and Songgang, which he received as gifts from Kim Jong-un, Chairman of the State Affairs Commission of North Korea, during the inter-Korean summit held in Pyongyang, in an interview with Laura Bicker, a presenter of the British public broadcaster BBC, at the Blue House on the morning of October 12, 2018. [Provided by the Blue House] [Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Hyun-joo] President-elect Yoon Seok-yeol stated regarding the handover issue of the pet dogs 'Gomi' and 'Songgangi,' which President Moon Jae-in received as gifts from North Korean Supreme Leader Kim Jong-un, that "the owner who raised them should continue to raise them." President Moon received Gomi and Songgangi as gifts from Chairman Kim after the third inter-Korean summit in September 2018.

On the 23rd, President-elect Yoon told reporters at the Presidential Transition Committee in Tongui-dong, Seoul, "(The dogs) are different from ordinary gifts," adding, "Wouldn't it be fine if President Moon took them to his private residence and continued to raise them?"

Gifts received by the president from a head of state are generally stored in the Presidential Archives, but living creatures cannot be transferred. Therefore, this statement is interpreted as suggesting that a different principle should apply to pet dogs. According to the principle, Gomi and Songgangi could be either adopted by a public institution or handed over to President-elect Yoon.

Known for his special affection for pets, President-elect Yoon said, "If they were given to me, I would raise them well," but also added, "I hope people don't think too human-centered when it comes to animals. The previous owner continuing to raise them aligns better with the spirit of the gift."

On the same day, President-elect Yoon also shared an anecdote from when he visited the Blue House to receive his appointment as Prosecutor General. He said, "While having a chat with President Moon, my wife (Kim Keon-hee) was about to say she wanted to see the dogs, so I gently nudged her."

President-elect Yoon currently lives with seven pets, including four dogs and three cats.