Pudding, the Dog Who Lost 9 Family Members in the Jeju Air Crash, Pays Tribute at Memorial

Author: Dian Kencana
January 6, 2025

Pudding visited a memorial altar set up in front of Seoul City Hall on Sunday (1/5). (Yonhap)

SEAToday.com, Seoul – Pudding, a dog that lost nine family members in the Jeju Air crash, visited a memorial altar set up in front of Seoul City Hall on Sunday (1/5).

Pudding was the companion of an 80-year-old man, the eldest victim of the December 29 disaster at Muan International Airport, which claimed 179 lives. The man, referred to as A, had been traveling with his family to celebrate his 80th birthday in Bangkok, Thailand, when the tragedy struck.

The crash took the lives of nine family members across three generations, including A’s wife, daughter, and 6-year-old granddaughter, leaving Pudding as the only survivor of the family. After the accident, Pudding was rescued and is now under the care of the animal rights group Care.

On Sunday (1/5), dressed in a blue outfit, Pudding visited the memorial around 2 p.m., carried by a foster caregiver. The dog quietly observed the memorial and stayed calm as the caregiver placed a chrysanthemum flower at the altar.

Kim Young-hwan, the head of Care, delivered a eulogy during the visit, while Pudding sat silently, gazing at the victims' memorial tablet. Remarkably, the dog did not bark throughout the visit.

A Care representative shared details about Pudding’s rescue, saying, “Pudding was sitting quietly at a community center but ran toward us as if waiting for someone. It was unsafe to leave the dog alone, so we decided to rescue it. We’ll ensure Pudding is cared for until a permanent home is found.”

A temporary caregiver noted that at home, Pudding often stares at the front door, appearing listless. The dog perks up when hearing its leash, eager to go outside.

Care has begun accepting adoption applications for Pudding and will continue fostering the dog until it finds a loving, permanent home.