Presidential Office: "Pungsanggae Return Is Only Moon Side's Judgment... Discussions Underway to Establish Related Regulations"

Presidential Office: "Claims that the Enforcement Decree Was Not Revised Due to Presidential Office Opposition Are Not True"

[Asia Economy Reporter Ki-min Lee] On the 7th, the Presidential Office rebutted regarding the return of Pungsan dogs given to former President Moon Jae-in by Kim Jong-un, General Secretary of the Workers' Party of Korea, stating, "Returning the Pungsan dogs to the Presidential Archives without waiting for the enactment of the enforcement ordinance was entirely the decision of former President Moon's side."

The Presidential Office spokesperson's office stated in a press release titled "Correcting the facts regarding reports on former President Moon Jae-in's 'return of Pungsan dogs'" on the afternoon of the same day, "It is a natural procedure for related ministries to consult regarding the revision of the enforcement ordinance," clarifying the matter.

The spokesperson's office first claimed, "The assertion that former President Moon's side tried to establish regulatory grounds to take care of the Pungsan dogs but the Presidential Office opposed it, resulting in no revision of the enforcement ordinance, is not true."

They continued, "The relevant enforcement ordinance falls under the jurisdiction of the Presidential Archives, and related ministries such as the Ministry of the Interior and Safety and the Ministry of Government Legislation are currently consulting. The revision of the enforcement ordinance has not been completely abandoned," they emphasized.

Former President Moon's side claimed on the same day that they would return the Pungsan dogs 'Gomi' and 'Songgang,' gifts from General Secretary Kim, to the government, arguing that the revision of the enforcement ordinance, a follow-up measure to the agreement signed with the Ministry of the Interior and Safety's Presidential Archives on May 9, the last day of Moon's term, had not been implemented.

According to the Presidential Records Act, Pungsan dogs received in the capacity of head of state are also presidential records and must be transferred to the Presidential Archives upon the president's retirement. However, the Presidential Archives does not have facilities to manage or raise animals and plants, and considering animal welfare, an agreement was signed on May 9 allowing former President Moon to take care of the Pungsan dogs, with provisions to provide necessary supplies and costs within the budget.

The Presidential Archives has been promoting the preparation of an enforcement ordinance since June that would allow support for management costs and entrusting care to former presidents for animals and plants, but this has not yet been realized. Regarding this, former President Moon's side claimed, "The Ministry of the Interior and Safety announced the legislative notice for the revision of the enforcement ordinance on June 17, but due to an objection from the Presidential Office for unknown reasons, it was not submitted to the Cabinet meeting."

Former President Moon's side emphasized, "If handled coolly, it would be fine. The management delegation of presidential records is based on mutual goodwill, so if the government side dislikes it or prepares a better management plan, they can stop the delegation at any time."

People Power Party lawmaker Kwon Seong-dong raised issues about the agreement between former President Moon and the Presidential Archives, calling it a "bizarre agreement." On Facebook, he pointed out, "Based on the agreement, a budget plan of about 2.5 million won for feed costs was established. Should taxpayers cover the dog-raising expenses of a dog kept by the former president after retirement? Outwardly, they attract attention by posting pet photos on social media, but inwardly, were they stingy about feed costs? It's truly petty and embarrassing."

Yoon Geon-young, a Democratic Party lawmaker who served as the head of the National Situation Room at the Moon Jae-in administration's Blue House, responded to Kwon's criticism, saying, "During the presidential transition period, President Yoon Suk-yeol conveyed to former President Moon that 'it would be better for the person who raised them to take them,' so the Pungsan dogs were taken to Pyeongsan. Outwardly, they generously said 'take them and raise them,' but inwardly, the Presidential Office is interfering with legalizing the act of raising them in Pyeongsan Village. It is the government and ruling party that are doing petty and embarrassing things," he rebutted.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.