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SCMP’s Asia desk

Former South Korean first couple Yoon Suk-yeol and Kim Keon-hee requested special treatment for their pets from South Korea’s embassy in Paris during their visits to France in 2023, an opposition lawmaker has revealed.
The couple “planned to bring their dogs on two visits to France in 2023 and asked the embassy to prepare protocol arrangements for them”, Democratic Party of Korea lawmaker Lee Jae-jung said during a parliamentary audit on Monday, The Korea Times newspaper reported.
“There were absurd demands, such as requesting space for the dogs inside a hotel suite, designating an embassy staffer to handle the pets and providing a separate vehicle for the animals,” Lee said, as quoted by the Korea JoongAng Daily.
“During a state visit, security and protocol for the head of state should come first. It’s deplorable that public officials were mobilised for pet protocol instead.”
Singling out Kim, Lee added: “At that time, she was promoting herself as an advocate for animal rights. Was the foreign ministry her personal travel agency? The idea of arranging kennels and assigning staff for ‘First Dogs’ is humiliating.”
Although the couple ultimately did not take their dogs on the trip, Foreign Minister Cho Hyun confirmed that the request was made, The Korea Herald newspaper reported.

Yoon’s office had contacted the embassy in France directly for this request, without consulting the ministry, Cho said. “I will conduct a thorough investigation to ensure that such a thing, which hurts the pride of diplomats, never happens again.”
This is not the first time the couple, now in detention while awaiting trial following Yoon’s martial law decree in December, has been accused of abusing their position to pamper their six dogs and five cats.
In June, Lee’s fellow party member Kim Byoung-joo noted that the couple had built a shallow pool at the presidential residence and speculated that it was for their pets’ use.
“I’ve looked around the space inside the official residence of the president, and a pool grabbed my attention,” Kim said after visiting the home, according to a report by The Korea Herald.
“We should closely examine whether the Yoons installed facilities for personal use with taxpayers’ money after moving into the official residence, where no one can monitor how the money is being spent.”
The couple is believed to have also had a cat tower worth 5 million won (US$3,500), according to the lawmaker.


The fate of their pets is uncertain now that both owners are behind bars. Kim looked after them when Yoon was arrested in July, but her own arrest on August 12 leaves them without carers.
While the couple’s aides have been visiting the pets, this arrangement may not last, according to The Korea Times.
Some have suggested the presidential security service – the only remaining privilege allowed for the disgraced couple – could take care of the pets as they are considered property.
Due to the negative public sentiment against the couple, however, the service was reportedly cautious about taking responsibility for their pets.


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Yoon and his wife asked the South Korean embassy in Paris to make space for their dogs inside a hotel suite and for a separate pet vehicle


Yoon and his wife asked the South Korean embassy in Paris to make space for their dogs inside a hotel suite and for a separate pet vehicle.


Did South Korea’s Yoon make ‘absurd demands’ for pet treatment on Paris trips?

.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}Yoon and his wife asked the South Korean embassy in Paris to make space for their dogs inside a hotel suite and for a separate pet vehicle

Yoon and his wife asked the South Korean embassy in Paris to make space for their dogs inside a hotel suite and for a separate pet vehicle