Yoon Seok-yeol, the former president, received two Alabai dogs named ‘Happy’ and ‘Joy’ as gifts, with the Seoul Metropolitan Government bearing an annual cost of approximately 6.7 million KRW.
It has been confirmed that approximately 6.7 million KRW is being spent yearly by Seoul City for the care of ‘Happy’ and ‘Joy,’ which are the national dogs of Turkmenistan that Yoon Seok-yeol received during his state visit to Turkmenistan in June last year.
Although Happy and Joy are classified as presidential records, it turns out that the related expenses are being handled not by the Presidential Office or the Ministry of the Interior and Safety's Presidential Records Center, but rather by the Seoul Grand Park, which is under the jurisdiction of the Seoul Metropolitan Government.
On the 27th, according to documents submitted by Yang Boo-nam, a member of the National Assembly’s Administrative Safety Committee from the Democratic Party, the annual management cost for Happy and Joy was estimated at 6,689,800 KRW. This cost includes feed expenses of 1,368,000 KRW, medical expenses of 1,320,000 KRW, and labor costs of 4,001,800 KRW.
The two Alabai dogs have been under the management of Seoul Grand Park since November 11 of last year, after being entrusted from the Presidential Office's record center.
Alabais are the national breed of Turkmenistan and a representative breed of shepherd dogs, weighing up to 90 to 100 kg and growing to a height of 70 to 80 cm when on all fours.
These dogs were sent to Seoul Grand Park as stipulated in the Presidential Records Act Enforcement Ordinance, which mandates that if animals are received as presidential gifts, they must be transferred to the relevant institutions.
Issues Surrounding the Management Costs of Presidential Gift Animals, Lack of Legal Provisions
The problem lies in the fact that while there are regulations regarding the transfer of gifts that are plants or animals in the Presidential Records Act Enforcement Ordinance, there are no clear provisions regarding the subsequent management or financial support.
A representative from the Presidential Records Center stated, “The Presidential Office made the decision to transfer them to Seoul Grand Park independently, so there is no connection with the Presidential Records Center, and we have no information on this matter.”
Two dogs, “Gomi” and “Songgang,” which were gifted to former President Moon Jae-in during the 2018 inter-Korean summit, have also been sent to Gwangju Woochi Zoo for management after his departure from office.
At that time, former President Yoon Seok-yeol pointed out, “A puppy should continue to be raised by the owner raising it,” leading to ongoing criticism.
Cho Young-sam, the former head of the Seoul Records Center, emphasized, “Any transfer of presidential records must go through the Presidential Records Center in all cases,” highlighting that the exclusion of the Presidential Records Center from this discussion process is akin to a "personal disposal."
He continued, “There is a need to clearly define the basis and procedures for transferring animal presidential records, methods of care, and financial support for entrusted institutions. Regulations should also be established requiring the entrusted institutions to keep records on the animals' growth process and specific circumstances, reporting this information regularly to the Presidential Records Center.”
Member Yang pointed out, “A contradictory situation arises where presidential records are managed by local government budgets rather than the national budget,” stressing the need for a management plan for the living presidential records that considers animal rights and undergoes social consensus.
Efforts to resolve these issues have not been absent. Last year, Democratic Party member Han Jeong-ae proposed amendments to the Animal Protection Act to restrict the receiving of animals as gifts by the President and to establish provisions for managing the costs for plants and animals transferred as presidential records.
However, both bills are currently pending in the National Assembly, and no substantial institutional improvements have been made.
Experts indicate that clear management guidelines and budget support measures for animals received as diplomatic gifts by the President must be established. In particular, there are calls to clarify responsibility and management standards from an animal welfare perspective.
Image Source: On June 10 last year (local time), Former President Yoon Seok-yeol and First Lady Kim Kun-hee pose for a commemorative photo with Turkmenistan's President Serdar Berdimuhamedov and his wife, holding the Alabai dog at a state dinner held at a hotel in Ashgabat, Turkmenistan. / Presidential Office, Former President Yoon Seok-yeol walking Happy and Joy at his residence in Hannam-dong, Seoul, on November 10 last year / President/Happy and Joy at Seoul Grand Park in Gwacheon on November 11 last year / Presidential Office.
