"After Neukgu, Now the Deer?" Five Deer Escape in Gwangmyeong Sparks Online Buzz

Five deer escaped from a deer farm in Gwangmyeong, Gyeonggi Province, prompting authorities to conduct a search, which was temporarily suspended at the request of the farm owner.

According to Gwangmyeong City and fire authorities on April 22, a total of five deer-including three adults and two fawns-escaped from their enclosure at a deer farm in Okgil-dong, Gwangmyeong. The farm owner initially reported that ten deer had escaped, but fire authorities confirmed through nearby closed-circuit television (CCTV) footage that the actual number was five.

Five deer escaped from a deer farm in Gwangmyeong, Gyeonggi Province, prompting authorities to conduct a search. However, the operation was temporarily suspended at the request of the farm owner. Photo by MBC News

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It is reported that the farm owner did not immediately report the escape but observed the situation for about a week, explaining that he waited in consideration of the deers' tendency to return to the farm on their own when food becomes scarce. However, when the deer did not come back, the farm owner called emergency services at 12:32 p.m. on April 22.

At 2:33 p.m. on April 23, Gwangmyeong City sent out an emergency alert stating, "Five deer have escaped near Okgil-dong, Gwangmyeong. Residents are advised to remain cautious and to report any sightings to 119 or the city hall." Fire authorities, responding to the report, carried out an intensive search focusing on the mountains and roads near the farm until the evening, but were unable to locate the deer. Subsequently, the farm owner indicated a desire to search personally, leading to the withdrawal of firefighters from the scene.

A fire department official stated, "The farm owner will conduct his own search and contact us if needed," adding, "If there are any further reports, we will respond immediately."

Authorities believe it is more likely that the escaped deer moved deeper into the nearby mountains rather than approaching residential areas. As of now, there have been no additional reports of injuries or deer breaking into homes related to the incident.

The escape has sparked various reactions online. While some expressed hope that the deer would safely return to the farm or that the situation would end without incident, others criticized the farm's management, questioning how the escape occurred and calling for stricter oversight.

Many also recalled the recent nationwide attention on the wolf "Neukgu" that escaped from Daejeon O-World. Online users commented, "Is escaping becoming a trend among animals?", "Is this Neukgu 2.0?", and "Gwangmyeong will become as famous as Daejeon O-World," referencing the current deer escape incident.

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