Jung Da-hyun is a reporter at The Korea Times, covering social issues in Korea, including foreign residents, education, environment and politics. Driven by a deep interest in people’s stories, she focuses on investigative and feature reporting through direct interviews and field coverage. She received the Amnesty International Korea Media Award for her “Deepfake Crisis at Schools” series. Reach her at dahyun08@koreatimes.co.kr. Always open to hearing your stories.
Ex-president’s dogs become financial burden for Seoul Grand Park
Former President Yoon Suk Yeol and his wife Kim Keon Hee, second from left, hold Central Asian shepherd dogs gifted by Turkmenistan, June 10, 2024. From right are Turkmenistan President Serdar Berdimuhamedov and his wife. Courtesy of presidential office
By Jung Da-hyun
Two Central Asian shepherd dogs gifted to former President Yoon Suk Yeol by Turkmenistan during his state visit have become an unexpected financial burden on Seoul Grand Park, as it bears annual care costs totaling nearly 6.7 million won ($4,656).
Although the two dogs, Happy and Joy, are officially classified as assets of the presidential office and eligible for archival status, their care expenses have been assigned to Seoul Grand Park rather than the Presidential Archives under the presidential office and the Ministry of Interior and Safety.
According to the data submitted Sunday to Rep. Yang Bu-nam of the Democratic Party of Korea, the park's annual expenses for managing the dogs are expected amount to approximately 6.69 million won. This includes 1.36 million won for food, 1.32 million won for veterinary care and about 4 million won in labor costs.
The park has been caring for the dogs since November last year, following an agreement signed on Nov. 8 with the Presidential Archives. Happy and Joy would normally be transferred to the Presidential Archives, but since they lack the facilities to care for live animals, Seoul Grand Park has taken on their management.
Yang criticized the current arrangement as a "contradictory situation," pointing out that presidential records are now being maintained through local government budgets instead of national funds.
He called for establishing a clear, socially agreed-upon system to manage living presidential records, emphasizing the importance of animal welfare.
The existing Enforcement Decree of the Management of Presidential Archives requires animals or plants received as presidential gifts to be transferred to institutions capable of properly caring for them. However, regulations governing responsibility, support provisions, transfer procedures and subsequent management remain unclear.
In June 2022, the interior ministry proposed revising the decree to offer financial assistance and necessary resources to institutions tasked with managing presidential gifts of animals or plants. However, the amendment failed to pass through the National Assembly.