Pet dog left alone after Jeju Air crash rescued by animal rights group

Animal rights organization CARE takes in ‘Pudding,’ who lost entire family in tragic plane crash

A dog named "Pudding" waits for the elderly couple and their granddaughter, who never returned, in a village in Yeonggwang, South Jeolla Province, on Dec. 31. /Ko Yoo-chan

A dog named “Pudding,” who lost all nine family members in the tragic Jeju Air crash at Muan International Airport, has been rescued.

Coexistence of Animal Rights on Earth (CARE), an animal rights organization in South Korea, shared on Instagram on Dec. 31 that they had taken in Pudding, who had been wandering alone in a village without a guardian. Pudding had belonged to the late Bae (78), the oldest victim of the Jeju Air tragedy, and his family.

CARE traveled immediately to Yeonggwang, South Jeolla Province, after receiving reports and media coverage about Pudding being left alone. They found the dog quietly sitting outside a community center. “The way Pudding eagerly ran toward us as soon as it saw us made us believe it had been waiting for its family,” the organization shared.

Concerned about the risks of Pudding roaming without a guardian, CARE decided to rescue the dog. After contacting the bereaved family at the funeral home, they agreed to temporarily care for Pudding. CARE also expressed concerns about its health. “We will keep Pudding safe in Seoul for now, as agreed with the family, and continue discussions. Pudding will remain in our care until a suitable guardian is found,” they said.

Bae went on his first overseas trip to Thailand with his family to celebrate his upcoming 80th birthday when the tragic accident occurred. He lived in a village in Yeonggwang with his wife, Lim (64), his eldest daughter, and his six-year-old granddaughter, Jeong. His eldest son-in-law, who worked in Gwangju, visited the family on weekends. The five of them, along with Bae’s younger daughter and her three children, made up the nine who traveled together but never returned. Bae’s younger son-in-law suddenly lost his parents-in-law, wife, and three children in the tragedy.

The identities of three of the nine victims had not been confirmed as of Dec. 31, including Pudding’s companion Jeong, Bae’s younger daughter, and her youngest son, so the memorial service will take place once they are identified.

[Lee Hye-jin]

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