"I Did It for Fun"... Man in His 40s Arrested for Spreading Fake 'Neukgu' Wolf Photos Using AI

by Heo Midam

Published 24 Apr.2026 16:41(KST)

Confusion in Search Operations Caused by Fake Neukgu Photos

A man in his 40s has been apprehended by the police for distributing fake photos related to "Neukgu," the wolf that escaped from Daejeon O-World and was captured after nine days.

According to Yonhap News on April 24, the Cyber Investigation Unit of the Daejeon Metropolitan Police Agency announced that it had arrested a 40-year-old suspect, identified as Mr. A, on charges of obstruction of official duties by deception. He is accused of generating and distributing fabricated wolf sighting photos using artificial intelligence (AI), thus hindering the search efforts of police and fire authorities.

Mr. A is alleged to have created and shared fake photos on April 8, after Neukgu escaped by digging under the safari fence at O-World, making it appear as if the wolf was wandering the streets near O-World’s main intersection.

AI-generated fake photos. SNS

When the fabricated photos were reported to the search authorities, the Daejeon city government sent out a disaster alert text message, warning citizens to be cautious and stating that "the wolf had left towards the O-World intersection."

Subsequently, the manipulated photos were used in Daejeon city’s briefings about the capture and in official announcements by the fire department and other authorities. Search teams, who were originally combing the hills near O-World, urgently changed their search area to Sajung-dong in Jung-gu, Daejeon. However, when it was revealed that the Neukgu photo had been created using AI, authorities faced criticism for wasting crucial search time by frantically searching for a non-existent wolf.

The police identified Mr. A as the suspect by comparing the manipulated photos with CCTV footage from around O-World, then confirmed his use of AI programs and photo upload history, leading to his arrest on this day. During police questioning, he reportedly admitted to the crime, stating that he "did it for fun."

A police official emphasized, "The spread of false information is not a mere prank-it is a serious crime that robs us of critical time needed to protect public safety," adding, "We will continue to thoroughly investigate and pursue illegal activities to the end."