The person who spread the fake photo that affected the emergency alert messages and search after a "neukgu" escaped from the Daejeon O-World zoo on the 8th was arrested by police.
On the 24th, the Daejeon Metropolitan Police Agency's cyber investigation unit said it arrested a man in his 40s, identified as A, on suspicion of obstruction of official duties by deceit, for generating and distributing a manipulated "neukgu" sighting photo using artificial intelligence (AI), which hindered the search by police and fire authorities.
A, 40, is accused of creating and distributing a fake photo that made it look like a "neukgu" was wandering near the O-World four-way intersection after the animal dug under the O-World safari's chain-link fence and escaped at about 9:18 a.m. on the 8th. When the photo was reported to search authorities that day, the Daejeon city government sent an emergency text at 1:56 p.m. saying, "A wolf went toward the O-World four-way intersection," and asked people to stay safe. The manipulated photo was used as is during the city's briefing on the capture situation and in the fire authorities' official announcement.
At the time, authorities searching mainly around a low mountain near O-World changed the search area to Sajung-dong, Jung-gu, Daejeon, because of this one photo. The search headquarters also moved from O-World to a nearby elementary school.
Even after it was revealed that the photo was manipulated, a string of mistaken reports followed, prompting criticism that the fire authorities, floundering, missed the prime window for the search and exhausted their firefighting resources.
Police identified A as a suspect through an investigation that compared the manipulated photo with security camera footage around O-World. They then reviewed AI program usage records and upload histories and arrested A that day. During police questioning, A admitted to the crime and reportedly said it was "for fun."
Police said, "Spreading false information is not a simple prank but a serious crime that robs authorities of the crucial moment to protect public safety," adding, "We will track illegal acts to the end and investigate strictly."