'Who let the dogs out?' Central Asian shepherds gifted to impeached leader now in zoo

Former President Yoon Suk Yeol takes care of Alabai dogs, gifted by Turkmenistan, at the presidential residence in Yongsan District in Seoul, Nov. 10, 2024. Courtesy of presidential office

Two dogs that were gifted to now-impeached former President Yoon Suk Yeol by the president of Turkmenistan have ended up at a zoo in Seoul rather than at Yoon’s private residence.

According to Seoul Grand Park and the Presidential Archive on Friday, the two Central Asian shepherd dogs — also known as Turkmen Alabay — will continue to be housed at the zoo inside the park, with no plans to relocate them to Yoon’s home.

Named Happy and Joy, the two dogs have been staying at the zoo since November 2024. Some had expected the furry companions to join the former president at his private residence since his departure from the presidential residence on April 8.

However, the dogs’ relocation did not materialize, likely due to their big size and cost of care. A full-grown Central Asian shepherd can weigh up to 100 kilograms. Yoon and his wife Kim Keon Hee now reside in an apartment complex in Seoul’s Seocho District.

The dogs were gifted by Turkmenistan President Serdar Berdimuhamedov as a symbol of friendship during the former presidential couple's state visit to the Central Asian country in June 2024.

Central Asian shepherd puppies play at the presidential residence in Yongsan District, Seoul, June 19, 2024. Courtesy of the presidential office

The puppies spent about five months at the presidential residence in Hannam-dong, Yongsan District, before being transferred to the zoo in Gwacheon, Gyeonggi Province. The presidential office cited their size and security reasons for the move.

Yoon and his wife, both known to be animal lovers, kept 11 pets during their time at the presidential residence.

The ex-presidential couple’s decision not to take Happy and Joy home stands in contrast to Yoon’s remarks in 2022.

At that time, when former President Moon Jae-in faced criticism for returning two Pungsan dogs — a gift from North Korean leader Kim Jong-un — to a state-run animal facility, Yoon, who was president-elect at the time, criticized the move, saying, “Dogs should live with their owners" and said he would take presidential pets home if he were in the same position.