Ex-South Korean leader plans to give up dogs from North Korea's Kim

Moon Jae-in's office says he was entrusted as dogs' caretaker

FILE PHOTO: South Korean President Moon Jae-in and first lady Kim Jung-sook hold puppies born from a hunting dog gifted from North Korea, in Seoul, South Korea November 25, 2018 in this image obtained November 27, 2018 from South Korean Presidential Office/Handout/via REUTERS THIS IMAGE HAS BEEN SUPPLIED BY A THIRD PARTY. MANDATORY CREDIT. / File Photo

South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol, in photos with his pet dogs. Mr Moon, his predecessor, has complained of a lack of government support for him keeping the North Korean dogs, legally categorised as state property. EPA

Mr Moon holds a puppy born from the North Korean hunting dog in 2018. Reuters

Mr Moon with seven puppies born from indigenous North Korean Pungsan dogs that Kim Jong-un gave him in 2018. EPA

Mr Moon, pictured in 2018, pats a female dog named Gomi, one of the two Pungsan-breed animals given to him by Mr Kim after a summit in Pyongyang. EPA

South Korea's former president Moon Jae-in said on Monday he plans to give up a pair of dogs sent by North Korean leader Kim Jong-un as a gift following their 2018 summit, citing a lack of support from his successor.

Mr Moon has raised the white Pungsan dogs, named Gomi and Songgang, since their arrival in the South. He took them to his personal residence after his term ended in May.

The dogs are legally categorised as state property belonging to the presidential archives, but Mr Moon's office said he was entrusted as their caretaker under consultations with the archives and the interior ministry, an unprecedented decision.

The agencies had sought a legislative amendment to facilitate the move, including financial support.

But that effort fell apart due to "unexplained opposition" from the administration of incumbent President Yoon Suk-yeol, Mr Moon's office said.

"The presidential office seems to be negative toward entrusting the management of the Pungsan dogs to former president Moon," Mr Moon's office said on Facebook.

"If that's the case, we can be cool about it, as such an entrustment is based on the good will of both sides ... though ending it is regretful given they are companion animals he grew attached to."

Mr Yoon's office denied foiling the move, saying the agencies are still discussing it, and it has not played any role.

The Chosun Ilbo daily reported earlier on Monday that there was debate over whether to provide Mr Moon with monthly subsidies totalling some 2.5 million won ($1,800), citing unnamed government and parliamentary officials.

The interior ministry, which oversees the presidential archives, did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

An official at the Ministry of Government Legislation said it has not opposed the idea and that discussions are ongoing.