Eun Ji-won: "Even the words 'Did someone die?' made me cry for three days"... What is 'Pet Loss Syndrome'?

'Pet Loss Syndrome' Should Be Properly Expressed Rather Than Suppressed
If It Leads to Severe Pain, Professional Help Is Needed

Singer Eun Ji-won opened up about his experience of losing a pet dog, drawing attention to 'pet loss syndrome.'

Singer Eun Ji-won is sharing his experience of going through 'Pet Loss Syndrome.' [Image source=KBS 2TV 'Animals Are Wonderful' capture]

On the 12th, the KBS 2TV show 'Animals Are Wonderful' addressed pet loss syndrome towards the end of its third episode. Videos showing farewells to pet dogs raised for over a decade were revealed. Watching this, broadcaster Seo Jang-hoon said, "My dog is like that right now," adding, "You never know when or how it will happen." Eun Ji-won, watching as well, added, "My dog is like that too..." In the video, the pet dog groaned before its death as it faced farewell.

After watching the entire video, Seo Jang-hoon said, "My dog is 18 years old now, and like the one shown earlier..." but was at a loss for words, then said, "(My pet's) condition is very bad. I feel the pain of a star so deeply that my heart feels very heavy," showing tears. Eun Ji-won explained, "The person in the story said it has been some time since their pet passed away, but they still find it too difficult to watch this video again," and shared, "The first dog I raised was almost the same age as me, just 1-2 years apart, and after that friend left, I experienced pet loss syndrome. The sadness was unbearable. I cried for three days. I was so sad that people asked if someone had died."

Broadcaster Seo Jang-hoon is shedding tears as he recalls his pet dog. [Image source=KBS 2TV 'Animals Are Wonderful' capture]

According to data from the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, the number of pet owners in South Korea is estimated to have surpassed 15 million. This means one in every four households has a pet. Additionally, as of the end of 2022, registered pets in the country reached 3 million. A research team led by Professor Jung Woon-sun from the Department of Psychiatry at Kyungpook National University Hospital published a paper in an international journal last August, reporting that among 137 people who experienced the death of a pet, 55% (76 people) scored above 25 points on the Inventory of Complicated Grief (ICG), the moderate threshold. The researchers explained that this "exceeds the level of normal bereavement and causes persistent psychological maladjustment."

To overcome pet loss syndrome, it is important to express sad emotions appropriately rather than suppressing them. Trainer Kim Hyo-jin said, "According to overseas research, if you experience pet loss syndrome, you should not try to hide your emotions but show them," adding, "Cry when you are sad and face it directly." Veterinarian Kim Myung-chul said, "Unlike in the past, society now understands that when a pet dies, it is like losing a family member, even non-pet owners understand this, so it is okay to grieve fully," but advised, "However, if this period is too difficult and severe pain continues for more than a month, I recommend seeking help through psychiatric counseling."

It is also necessary for those around to regard the death of a pet as equivalent to the death of a family member and offer comfort. Experts advise refraining from suggesting to replace the lost pet with another animal.