President Moon Returns Pungsan Dogs 'Gomi' and 'Songgang' to Zoo

Gwangju Uchi Zoo Busy Preparing Animal Enclosures and Selecting Caretakers
Lease Format Instead of Adoption... Anticipating Reunion with Offspring Dog 'Byeol-i' After 3 Years

Former President Moon Jae-in's Pungsan dogs, Gomi (female, right) and Songgang (male, left), which were returned to the government, are seen taking a walk in the front yard of the Veterinary Medicine College Animal Hospital at Kyungpook National University in Buk-gu, Daegu on the 10th of last month. Photo by Yonhap News

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Hyunjung] The new home for the Pungsan dogs 'Gomi' and 'Songgang,' which former President Moon Jae-in raised and returned to the government last month, has been decided as Gwangju Uchi Zoo.

On the 9th, Gwangju City announced that it received a notification from the Presidential Archives to take care of Gomi and Songgang at Uchi Zoo. Accordingly, Uchi Zoo has begun preparations to welcome the Pungsan dogs by arranging a space for Gomi and Songgang and selecting caretakers. At Uchi Zoo, 'Byeori,' born between the female Gomi and the male Songgang, is already living, so a reunion between parent and offspring dogs is expected to take place soon after three years. Byeori was adopted by Uchi Zoo in August 2019 and currently resides in the kennel.

Gomi and Songgang are Pungsan dogs gifted by North Korean Supreme Leader Kim Jong-un after the inter-Korean summit in September 2018. Former President Moon Jae-in raised them but recently returned them to the government. They were temporarily staying at Kyungpook National University Animal Hospital while a new residence was being sought. Since Gomi and Songgang are presidential records, Uchi Zoo will receive them in a loan format rather than adoption. The Uchi Park Management Office plans to provide special care for Gomi and Songgang to prevent theft, loss, or maladaptation. Also, even after the adaptation period, public viewing will be allowed in a limited manner, and whether to integrate them with their offspring Byeori will be decided later based on their adaptation.

Last month, when Gomi and Songgang were returned, the Presidential Archives asked local governments and zoos in Seoul, Incheon (2 dogs), Daejeon (2 dogs), and Gwangju, which had adopted six puppies of Gomi and Songgang, whether they could also take care of the parent dogs. Other zoos declined due to breeding conditions, but only Gwangju Uchi Zoo responded positively, saying "there is no reason to refuse breeding." A Uchi Park Management Office official told Yonhap News last month, "If Gomi and Songgang come, general visitors will be able to see them walking, active, or living inside the enclosure. It is difficult to predict the decision of the Ministry of the Interior and Safety, but we are preparing for it."

After leaving office, former President Moon took the three Pungsan dogs?Gomi, Songgang, and one of Gomi's seven puppies, 'Dauni'?to his private residence in Yangsan, Gyeongnam, and lived with them. However, as the monthly cost of raising the Pungsan dogs reached 2.5 million won and questions arose about whether it was appropriate for a former president to continue raising presidential record Pungsan dogs after retirement, he eventually returned the dogs to the government.

Regarding this, the ruling party and animal protection groups criticized former President Moon, saying he "abandoned the dogs he was raising." In response, former President Moon posted on his social media, "An unprecedented case occurred where companion animals were transferred as presidential records, and the Presidential Archives did not have the human and material systems to manage companion animals. Therefore, the retiring president entrusted the management of the (Pungsan dogs) from the Presidential Archives and raised them," adding, "If it is possible to adopt them now (as companion dogs, not presidential records), it would be greatly welcomed," expressing his feelings.