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There are 15 million people who have companion animals in Korea.

As 1 out of 4 albums live with pets, the courtship of the ruling and opposition presidential candidates to capture pet Sims is also getting fiercer.



Reporter Kim Hyung-rae.



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Gyeonggi Governor Lee Jae-myung held a meeting at an abandoned animal protection facility in January and also participated in a discussion on the ban on eating dogs last month.



[Lee Jae-myung/Governor of Gyeonggi Province (last month): I think it is time to put the legislation on the ban on dog eating to the public and discuss it.] After



visiting the dog playground in Boramae Park in Seoul last month, former Democratic Party leader Lee Nak-yeon, today ( 3) took a walk with a large dog in the Hangang Park, emphasizing the protection of animal rights.




[Lee Nak-yeon/Former Democratic Party Representative: I will make it as comfortable as possible for Gulliver (the dog's name).]



SNS profile of former Attorney General Yoon Seok-yeol.



She posted a picture of her holding her dog, Tori, and wrote the name of her pet in the self-introduction, saying, “Toria, Butterfly Butler.”



Former President Yoon is known to have 4 dogs and 3 cats.



When Rep. Hong Jun-pyo of People's Strength ran for the 19th presidential election, he made a promise to introduce companion animal medical insurance and include an animal protection clause in the constitution.




[Hong Jun-pyo / People's Strength Representative: Itcha, did you eat something?

(To your dog) What did you give?] The



age of companion animals approaching 15 million people.



President Moon Jae-in is raising dogs and cats at the Blue House, and today he posted on social media the news that the Pungsan dog 'Gomi', which he received as a gift from North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, gave birth to 7 pups.



In the United States, the president's dog is also called the 'first dog'.



President Joe Biden had a German Shepherd 'Champ', and when Champ passed away last month, he posted on social media saying, "I have been a precious companion for the past 13 years."



(Video coverage: Kim Heung-gi, Lee Chan-soo, video editing: Yu Mira)