'Controversy over Moon's Pungsan Dog Abandonment'... North Korea Registers 'Pungsan Dog Culture' as National Heritage

Registered as a Natural Monument in 1956
Elevated to National Symbol Status in 2014

Two Pungsan dogs, Gomi (female, front) and Songgang (male, back), which former President Moon Jae-in raised and returned to the government, are taking a walk in the front yard of the Veterinary Medical Center at Kyungpook National University in Buk-gu, Daegu, on the afternoon of the 10th. These two dogs were gifted by North Korean Supreme Leader Kim Jong-un after the inter-Korean summit in September 2018. Former President Moon raised them but recently returned them to the government, and they are now staying at the Kyungpook National University Veterinary Medical Center.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Jang Hee-jun] Amid controversy over former President Moon Jae-in's 'Pungsan dog return,' North Korea has registered Pungsan dog-related culture as a National Intangible Cultural Heritage (South Korea's intangible cultural asset).

Korean Central News Agency reported on the 17th, "Recently, the Ministry of Culture's National Heritage Protection Bureau registered the culture related to Pungsan dog, the national dog of Joseon (North Korea), as a National Intangible Cultural Heritage." It added, "(The registration includes) the process of raising and training Pungsan dogs, hunting customs using Pungsan dogs, and various forms of artworks such as novels, movies, and paintings themed on Pungsan dogs."

The agency introduced, "The 'Kyongsong Dog Meat Soup of North Hamgyong Province' has been registered as a local intangible cultural heritage, showing the wisdom and talent of our people who effectively utilized their unique local cooking methods and characteristics in their diet."

The Workers' Party organ, Rodong Sinmun, also emphasized on the same day, "The newly registered intangible cultural heritages well represent the unique lifestyle and culture of the Korean nation and will actively contribute to instilling ethnic pride and confidence in our people about their own heritage."

The North Korean Choson Stamp Corporation issued stamps featuring the magnolia, the national flower; the pine tree, the national tree; the Pungsan dog, the national dog; and the goshawk, the national bird.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

North Korea has attached great significance to the Pungsan dog, registering it as Natural Monument No. 368 on April 9, 1956.

Kim Jong-un, General Secretary of the Workers' Party, designated the Pungsan dog as the 'national dog' on November 7, 2014, elevating it as one of the national symbols. During the inter-Korean summit in September 2018, he gifted former President Moon with Pungsan dogs named 'Gomi' and 'Songgang.' It is known that Ri Sol-ju, Kim's wife, said, "These dogs also have pedigree certificates."

Meanwhile, former President Moon raised Gomi and Songgang at the Blue House residence and continued to care for them in Yangsan after his retirement, recently returning them to the government. When criticism arose from some ruling party members alleging abandonment due to the cost of raising the dogs, he posted on Facebook, "(At the time of retirement) the Presidential Archives had no system to manage pets, and there was criticism about whether it was appropriate to leave them at Seoul Grand Park as before. Therefore, I entrusted the management to the Presidential Archives and continued to raise them," adding, "I would be very happy to adopt them again even now."

Gomi and Songgang are currently staying at Kyungpook National University Animal Hospital. North Korean external propaganda media, which monitor South Korea's trends, have not yet issued any statements regarding the controversy over the return of the Pungsan dogs.