韓国前大統領、正恩氏贈呈の犬の飼育断念か　政府援助なく

【ソウルＡＦＰ＝時事】韓国の文在寅（ムン・ジェイン）前大統領の事務所は７日、文氏が北朝鮮の金正恩（キム・ジョンウン）朝鮮労働党総書記から贈られた犬２頭について、現政府からの金銭的援助がないことを理由に飼育を断念せざるを得ないと考えていることを明らかにした。（写真は北朝鮮が韓国に贈った豊山犬。韓国大統領府提供）
　２０１８年９月に平壌で行われた、両首脳にとって３度目の会談の後、金氏は文氏に友好の証しとして、北朝鮮原産の猟犬「豊山犬」のつがいを贈った。
　文大統領の在任中に子犬７頭が生まれ、５月の退任時には、つがいと子ども１頭を自邸に連れ帰っていた。
　韓国の法律では、これらの犬は国の所有物であり、本来は大統領府に返還されなければならない。しかし文氏の事務所は、任期の終わりに３頭の飼育を同氏に委任する合意が結ばれたとしている。
　現地報道によると、この合意には、月２５０万ウォン（約２６万円）の飼育費用を政府が負担する項目があった。
　だが文氏側は、後任の尹錫悦（ユン・ソンニョル）氏の大統領府が反対し、合意が履行されていないと主張。文氏は犬を返還する意思があるとしている。一方大統領府は、文氏側の主張を否定し、関係省庁間で協議が続けられていると述べた。
　問題が明らかになると、市民からは懸念や批判が噴出した。インターネット上では、「犬は家族だ。金銭問題があるからといって手放すなんて」「犬を飼っている人間として、これは理解し難い。できることなら自分が犬を引き取りたい」といった声が上がった。【翻訳編集ＡＦＰＢＢＮｅｗｓ】
〔ＡＦＰ＝時事〕（2022/11/08-14:11）

South Korea's former president Moon Jae-in is seeking to give up two dogs gifted to him by North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, citing a lack of support from Seoul, his office said Monday.
The white Pungsan dogs, one male named Songkang and a female named Gomi, were given to Moon by Kim after their third summit in Pyongyang in September 2018 as a token of their blossoming friendship.
The pair gave birth to seven puppies during Moon's presidency, and he had taken Songkang, Gomi, and one puppy to his private residence after his term ended in May this year.
Under the Presidential Records Act, legally speaking the dogs are state property to be returned to the care of the Presidential Archives but an agreement was signed entrusting the three dogs to Moon on the last day of his term, his office said in a statement.
The agreement included a provision for government support to cover the expense of keeping the dogs totalling 2.5 million won ($1,800) a month, according to local reports.
But Moon's office said the agreement had not been implemented due to an objection from the presidential office of his successor Yoon Suk-yeol, adding Moon was willing to hand over custody of his dogs.
Looking at the progress so far, the Presidential Office seems to be negative about entrusting the management of the Pungsan dogs to former president Moon, his office said in a statement.
If that's the case, we can be frank about it, it said, adding Moon was willing to end his custody if the government had come up with a better management plan.
The Presidential Office denied the claims by Moon's office, saying discussions among relevant ministries were still ongoing.
The fate of the hounds triggered an outpouring of public concern and criticism, with social media users asking to take the trio.
Dogs are family. How can they be sent away simple because of money? asked one user.
Another commented: As a person who has a dog, this is hard to wrap my head around. If I can, I'd take the dogs.
Known for loyalty and intelligence, the Pungsan breed -- a hunting dog with a thick, creamy white coat, pointy ears and hazel eyes -- is originally from an area of the same name in the North.