Ex-Busan mayor criticized for abandoning pet dogs

Former Busan Mayor Oh Keo-don gives a briefing at his office, April 23, to announce his resignation over a sexual harassment accusation against him, which he openly admitted to. Yonhap

By Lee Hyo-jin

Former Busan Mayor Oh Keo-don is being criticized for abandoning his pet dogs at his official residence after suddenly resigning last month over a sexual harassment accusation against him.

The Busan Metropolitan City said, Tuesday, that it decided to adopt the two abandoned dogs named Hot and Ruby, after the Oh family had told the local government officials that they would be unable to look after the animals anymore.

Oh stepped down from his position on April 23, admitting that he had made unnecessary physical contact with a female civil servant earlier that month. The police investigation into the allegation was launched and he had been out of the public view until he was spotted at a pension in Geoje Island, South Gyeongsang Province, on May 4.

Since Oh's departure, the two dogs have been taken care of by the janitor of the official residence.

The former mayor and his wife adopted the dogs from an animal shelter through a TV program in 2018 and Oh expressed his hope that it would encourage citizens to adopt abandoned animals instead of buying at pet shops.

The local government plans to keep the dogs in the official residence for the time being as they might feel stressed if moved to an unfamiliar place.