Hope-turns- despair…Cold and confused, a pet dog named Pudding cuts a lone figure at the entrance to its village in Yeonggwang County, South Korea waiting for its family’s return.
By Foong Pek Yee
foongpekyee@gmail.com
Jan 4, 2025
Every approaching vehicle brings Pudding hope that quickly turns despair as they zoomed past with no sight of its loved ones.
But Pudding never give up hope to be with them again.
Just days earlier, Pudding and nine of its family members bade farewell happily before leaving for a holiday in Thailand.
Little did they know that it was their last farewell.
Pudding’s family members were among the 179 people killed in the Jeju Air Flight 2216 that crashed at Muan International Airport, South Korea in the morning of December 29, 2024.
The plane, from Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi Airport with 181 on board, 175 passengers plus six crew members, saw two survivors. Both were crew members.
While Pudding is still waiting in vain for their return – the tragedy that unfolded at Muan International Airport, about 50 minutes drive from its village, also South Korea’s worst aviation disaster in the country’s history- sent shock waves across the world.
The head of Pudding’s family is a 79-year-old grandfather.
He, his wife , two daughters, a son-in-law and four grandchildren were among the 179 fatalities .
Where are you…Pudding longing for its family.
On new year’s eve, South Korea’s animal rescue group , Care (Coexistence of Animal Rights on Earth ) posted on social media that they have rescued Pudding who is now under their custody until they found a home for him.
According to Care, they have received permission from a family member to rescue Pudding found wandering alone in the open amidst harsh weather conditions.
Care has sent Pudding for health checks at a veterinary hospital in Seoul.
The story of Pudding was reported in The Korea Times on Jan 2, 2025, followed by some media organizations all over the world.
Photos :The Korea Times captured from Care’s Instagram.
Update: Jan 7, 2025
Photos at the memorial : The Korea Times. Credited to Yonhap
A picture is worth a thousand words.
On Sunday (Jan 5, 2025) afternoon, a week after the crash, Pudding pay its last respects to its family members at a joint memorial altar set up in front of Seoul City Hall in Seoul, reported The Korea Times on Jan 6, 2025.
Clad in a blue outfit and with its gaze fixed on the altar, Pudding did not bark even once throughout the service.
Its attention zoomed in on its family’s memorial tablet as head of Care, Kim Young-Hwan, read a eulogy.
The Korea Times report quoting a temporary caretaker from Care said: “At home, Pudding often looks at the front door, seemingly listless. The dog gets excited just hearing the leash, wanting to go outside.”