SEOUL (Reuters) – Former South Korean President Moon Jae-in said on Monday he plans to give away a pair of dogs sent by North Korean leader Kim Jong Un as a gift after the 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 classified as government property belonging to the presidential archives, but Moon’s office said he was assigned their guardian after consultations with the archives and the interior ministry, an unprecedented decision. The agencies had requested a legislative amendment to facilitate the move, including financial support. But that effort foundered due to “inexplicable opposition” from current President Yoon Suk-yeol’s government, Moon’s office said. “The presidential office appears to be adverse to 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 with it, as such an assignment is based on the goodwill of both parties… though its ending is a sad one given that it’s pets she was associated with.” Yoon’s office has denied that it thwarted the move, saying the agencies are still deliberating and that it played no role. The daily Chosun Ilbo reported earlier Monday, citing unnamed government and parliamentary officials, that there was discussion about whether to give Moon monthly subsidies totaling about 2.5 million won ($1,800). The Interior Department, which oversees presidential records, did not immediately respond to requests for comment. An official from the Ministry of Government Legislation said it has not objected to the idea and discussions are ongoing. ($1 = 1,401.8300 won) (Reporting by Hyonhee Shin; Editing by Lincoln Feast)
