"So Glad He's Back": The Neukgu Craze Sweeps Daejeon... Fans Ask for Daily Life Videos

Food Intake Increases as Neukgu Stabilizes After Capture
Attention Shifts to When O-World Will Reopen

Public interest in Neukgu, the wolf who escaped from Daejeon O-World and was safely captured and returned, remains high. With updates indicating that Neukgu is rapidly regaining his health, online communities are now requesting not only written status updates but also videos of his meals and daily life.

Neukgu ate 980g of beef and fresh ground chicken on the 19th, which is 330g more than the previous day. O-World stated, "We will continue to provide updates on whether Neukgu is eating healthily and his overall health condition," adding, "He is gradually showing a more stable appearance." O-World Instagram

Neukgu was captured at around 12:15 a.m. on the 17th after being tranquilized. While concerns were raised about his health as the search prolonged, it has been reported that he is recovering well without any major issues. O-World has been regularly updating Neukgu's condition through its official website and social media channels. According to O-World, Neukgu consumed a total of 650g of beef and raw chicken on the 18th. It was reported that beef was provided as a special treat along with his usual chicken diet.

On the 19th, Neukgu ate 980g of beef and ground raw chicken, which is 330g more than the previous day. O-World stated, "We will continuously update on whether Neukgu is eating healthily and his overall health condition," adding, "He is gradually showing more stable behavior." As these updates were shared, online users expressed relief, commenting, "It's a relief that he's doing well," "I never thought I'd be so happy to hear 'he finished all his food'," and "Now I feel reassured." There is growing demand to see videos rather than just text-based updates, with many hoping to witness Neukgu’s recovery process firsthand.

On social media, many users requested, "Please regularly upload YouTube videos of Neukgu eating, walking, and recovering," "Photos alone are not enough. I want to see his healthy condition on video," and "If there’s a Neukgu vlog, I'll watch it every day." Since Neukgu's escape and return have become a national sensation and he has essentially become a 'star animal,' there are increasing calls for O-World to communicate more actively with the public.

'Neukgu Craze' Sweeps Daejeon, Including Neukgu Bread

In Daejeon, the so-called 'Neukgu craze' is rapidly spreading. A local bakery in Daejeon began selling 'Neukgu Bread'—chocolate cream bread shaped like Neukgu’s face—starting on the 18th, and every batch has reportedly sold out quickly due to high popularity. This shows that local interest in Neukgu has even translated into consumer demand.

On the 18th, an electronic billboard on a building in Dunsan-dong, Daejeon displayed the message "Neukgu, thank you for coming back." Photo by Yonhap News Agency

Local businesses are also joining in with supportive messages. The LG Electronics Best Shop Daejeon main branch is displaying the message "Neukgu, thank you for coming back" on its large electronic billboard. Previously, during Neukgu’s escape, the sign read "Neukgu, please come back," which was changed to an expression of gratitude after he was safely captured. This has been seen as a symbolic moment of the local community welcoming Neukgu’s return together.

Online, secondary content related to Neukgu is thriving. On secondhand marketplaces, items such as 'signs' modeled after Neukgu’s paw print are being posted for sale, while on social media and local communities, composite images, parody pictures, and AI-generated images featuring Neukgu are spreading rapidly. Some users even created and shared fake advertisements claiming that popular bakery brands would release limited edition bread shaped like Neukgu’s face. This indicates that Neukgu has become more than just a zoo-related issue—he has turned into a local meme and a central topic of conversation.

Neukgu’s popularity has grown even further in conjunction with the success of local sports teams. Immediately after Neukgu’s return, both the Hanwha Eagles professional baseball team and the Daejeon Hana Citizen K League 1 soccer team achieved victories, leading to online reactions such as, "As soon as Neukgu returned, Daejeon’s teams won," and "Neukgu is Daejeon's lucky charm." Some fans even joked about changing the Hanwha Eagles’ team name or mascot to a wolf.

Neukgu Follows in the Footsteps of Fubao Craze—When Will O-World Reopen?

Interest in Neukgu goes beyond simple curiosity. Some have commented that Neukgu has inherited the popularity of Fubao, the panda who returned to China. Online users have stated, "The escape was dangerous, but I'm glad he returned safely," "Now that there’s so much attention, I hope animal welfare and living conditions are also discussed," and "If Neukgu’s recovery process is transparently released, it would actually increase public trust." Calls for safety, welfare, and communication are also increasing, indicating that the buzz surrounding his return is evolving into broader interest in zoo operations overall.

O-World has suspended operations since May 9th following the wolf dog escape and is currently conducting safety inspections, facility repairs, and operational restructuring. However, the reopening date has not yet been determined. Daejeon O-World Instagram

Currently, Neukgu is recovering in a quarantine area within O-World. Although it is reported that he lost about 3 kg during his time on the run, his food intake has been steadily increasing since his capture and he is not experiencing any significant digestive issues. O-World explained that Neukgu is eating and resting well under the care of zookeepers and veterinarians. Naturally, attention is shifting to the timing of O-World’s reopening.

O-World has suspended operations since May 9th following Neukgu’s escape, and is currently undergoing safety inspections, facility maintenance, and operational restructuring. However, the reopening date has not yet been determined. O-World stated, "Neukgu’s recovery takes top priority," and added, "We will decide whether to resume operations after completing sufficient safety checks and facility maintenance."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.