▲ Panoramic view of Jeju City
Jeju residents are suffering from unexpected regional hatred and the spread of fake news following the so-called "false conclusion of a Jeju missing person case."
According to the Jeju Provincial Police Agency and other sources on the 8th, groundless criticisms that stigmatize all of Jeju as a dangerous place are spreading through online platforms like social media and some media reports due to excessive concerns over public safety.
Recently, some media outlets cited a YouTube video and published articles claiming that a person "took a taxi at dawn and woke up in a reed field."
In the video, a YouTuber claimed, citing a secondhand account from an acquaintance, that a woman took a taxi during the early morning hours, fell asleep, and woke up in a reed field.
The video also stated that the woman escaped by cutting through the reed field and reported the incident to the police.
Based on these claims, the police checked 112 emergency calls and the Criminal Justice Information System (KICS), announcing that no reports matching this description have been found to date.
The police additionally stated that other incidents mentioned in the video either happened 10 years ago or could not be verified recently.
Many residents around Museongcheon, Aewol-eup, Jeju City—where the video claimed there are "many reed fields"—said, "There are places in the mountainous areas of Museongcheon where silver grass grows sparsely, but there are no reeds." They added, "This is the first time we are hearing that there are reed fields dense enough to struggle through in the Museongcheon area."
Residents urged people to exercise restraint, stating, "We are suffering from damages such as anxiety among residents and a decrease in tourists caused by groundless fear-mongering."
A police official stated, "Because the article does not provide specific dates, times, and locations of the incident, there is a concern that it may be mistaken for a recent consecutive event in Jeju, thereby heightening public anxiety among residents."
Furthermore, unreasonable hate comments have been posted on local resident YouTube channels that introduce travel and culture related to Jeju, with remarks such as, "You should apologize for encouraging people to visit Jeju," and "Why are you promoting a dangerous Jeju?"
There have also been cases of people criticizing Jeju by combining expressions of tangerines—a symbol of Jeju—with specific country names, as well as posts attempting to spread hatred by associating it with citizens of other countries who frequently visit Jeju for tourism.
The Jeju-based YouTuber "Mwo-raeng-ha-man" (a Jeju dialect phrase meaning "What are you talking about?") said in a video, "I am someone living in Jeju, and my family and loved ones are here. If this continues, won't it be myself and other Jeju residents who suffer the damage?" They added, "I hope Jeju becomes a safe and peaceful island once again."
Ko Sung-man, a professor of sociology at Jeju National University, stated, "It is natural for anxiety to grow following this false-conclusion missing person case, and the sloppy response from the police in particular has made many citizens even more anxious." However, he added, "Indiscriminate raising of suspicions is of no help in resolving the case and can lead to hatred and stigmatization against specific individuals or groups. In particular, we must prevent second and third victims from being created by groundless speculations spreading online."
(Photo: Yonhap News)
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