Yoon Suk Yeol and wife to take 11 pets along in move out of presidential residence on April 11

SEOUL – Former South Korean president Yoon Suk Yeol and his wife Kim Keon Hee are finally set to leave their official residence in Hannam-dong, Seoul, on April 11, taking with them their 11 pets, including both cats and dogs.

This means the couple will be sharing their four-bedroom apartment home at Acro Vista complex in southern Seoul, with their six dogs and five cats. Part of a 37-story high-rise complex comprising 757 residential and commercial units, the couple’s home has a floor space of 164 sq m. Before moving to the presidential residence earlier, the couple, who do not have children, had lived there with seven pets – four dogs and three cats.

Since moving into the presidential residence, however, their number of animal companions has grown to 11. The most recent addition came in December 2022, when the couple adopted their 11th pet, Saeromi – a Labrador retriever and retired guide dog.

Local reports say Yoon may be considering relocating to another private residence in the greater Seoul area, such as Yangpyeong or Gapyeong in Gyeonggi province, after temporarily settling in Seocho-dong, as their apartment may be unsuitable for keeping so many pets, and the presence of security personnel could make the neighbours uncomfortable.

Ousted Yoon has been removed from power, and stripped of the rights and privileges that came with the presidency, but under the current law, he remains eligible to receive protection from the Presidential Security Service for up to 10 years.

The presidential bodyguards reportedly launched a security team of about 50 personnel to provide protection for the former president, which will begin once he leaves the official residence. THE KOREA HERALD/ASIA NEWS NETWORK