Ministry of Legislation: "No Opposition to Moon's Pungsangae Budget"

(Seoul=Yonhap News) Former President Moon Jae-in revealed photos on SNS showing that on July 3 last year, a Pungsan dog named 'Gomi' from North Korea and his original Pungsan dog 'Maru' had seven puppies. President Moon said, "They are now 4 weeks old, and with seven of them, naming is not easy." 2021.7.3 [Provided by the Blue House. Resale and DB prohibited]
Photo by 청와대

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? Yonhap News Agency, Unauthorized reproduction and redistribution prohibited

[Asia Economy Sejong=Reporter Lee Jun-hyung] The Ministry of Government Legislation has stated that it did not oppose the budget support for the Pungsan dogs raised by former President Moon Jae-in.

On the 7th, the Ministry of Government Legislation clarified through a press release that it did not oppose budget support for the management of former President Moon’s Pungsan dogs. This was in response to allegations that the Ministry had opposed a government budget plan to support the Pungsan dogs that former President Moon has been raising at his residence in Yangsan, Gyeongnam after his retirement.

Earlier, on the 5th, former President Moon’s side expressed their intention to return three Pungsan dogs to the state. In September 2018, during the 3rd Inter-Korean Summit held in Pyongyang, former President Moon received a pair of Pungsan dogs as a gift from Kim Jong-un, Chairman of the State Affairs Commission of North Korea. The pair of Pungsan dogs gave birth to seven puppies at the Blue House, six of which were adopted out.

Former President Moon’s side signed an agreement with Shim Sung-bo, Director of the Presidential Archives, on the last day of the previous administration’s term. The agreement’s main point was that expenses necessary for managing the three Pungsan dogs could be supported by government funds. Accordingly, the Ministry of the Interior and Safety prepared a budget plan of approximately 2.5 million KRW per month for the management support of the Pungsan dogs.

To support former President Moon’s Pungsan dogs with government funds, the Enforcement Decree of the Presidential Records Management Act must be amended. However, it is reported that the amendment process has not yet been properly carried out. The Presidential Office stated on the same day, “The relevant enforcement decree falls under the jurisdiction of the Presidential Archives,” and added, “The Ministry of the Interior and Safety, the Ministry of Government Legislation, and other related ministries are currently in consultation.”

Meanwhile, former President Moon’s side claims that the amendment process has stalled due to opposition from the current government. The former President’s secretariat said on the same day, “The Ministry of the Interior and Safety announced the legislative notice for the amendment of the enforcement decree on June 17, but due to an objection from the Presidential Office for unknown reasons, it was not submitted to the Cabinet meeting,” and added, “The lack of progress even six months after (former President Moon’s) retirement seems to be caused by opposition from the Presidential Office.”

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