"Scared to Go" and "Gyulbodia": Tragedy of Missing Persons Sparks Outpouring of Jeju-phobia

Amid the recent consecutive discoveries of missing persons found dead in Jeju, controversy is growing as derogatory remarks targeting the entire Jeju region continue to spread.

Malicious comments criticizing Jeju have flooded the YouTube channel of creator "Mworanghaman," who serves as a public relations ambassador for Jeju Special Self-Governing Province.

Some netizens posted comments on Jeju-related videos uploaded by Mworanghaman, saying, "If you watch this video and go to Jeju, you'll get kidnapped and go missing," and "How are we even supposed to go now since it's so scary?" They even hurled crude insults such as "Gyulbodia," a portmanteau of Cambodia and gyul (tangerine).

In response, other netizens have pointed out, "What did the people living in Jeju do wrong?" and "Don't blame innocent people."

Previously, medical doctor and broadcaster Hong Hye-gul, who has lived in Jeju for seven years, also faced criticism after bringing up public safety issues in the region.

Hong wrote on his social media yesterday, "As you travel through every nook and cranny of Jeju, you pass by deserted and shady paths," adding, "I do not recommend walking alone, even in broad daylight, even for a robust man."

As netizens criticized the post for "making Jeju look repulsive," Hong posted a follow-up message today explaining, "My intention was to advise caution, not to claim that Jeju is dangerous."

Criticism surrounding the police response has been mounting following revelations that a police officer in his 30s, identified as Inspector A from the Jeju Western Police Station, falsely closed multiple missing person reports, coupled with the recent discovery of four missing persons dead over the past two days.

Furthermore, as it became known that Inspector A handled as many as 298 missing person cases by closing them out from March of last year until recently, unverified claims to the effect that "there are many missing persons who have died in Jeju" are spreading online.

The police have launched a full-scale investigation into the missing person cases previously handled by Inspector A.

(Reported by Lee Hyeon-yeong | Video by Kim Hye-ju | Graphics by Yang Hye-min | Produced by SBS Digital News)
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.