“Boy who cried wolf” twist: AI image misleads real wolf search in South Korea

International

LIKE a digital-age version of “The Boy Who Cried Wolf,” a fabricated image shared online has resulted in an arrest in South Korea after officials say it interfered with an active search for an escaped wolf.

In a report by BBC, police have detained a man in his 40s for allegedly creating and distributing an AI-generated photo that appeared to show Neukgu, the missing wolf, walking through a road intersection in Daejeon.

The image circulated hours after the animal went missing on 8 April and was treated as a credible sighting.

Authorities said the post prompted an urgent shift in search operations, redirecting resources toward the location shown in the fabricated image.

The Daejeon city government also issued an emergency text alert warning residents of a reported wolf sighting in the area. Local media reported that the image was later presented during an official press briefing.

Investigators identified the suspect after reviewing security camera footage and examining records related to his use of AI software.

Police have not clarified whether the man sent the image directly to authorities or shared it publicly online.

When questioned, the man said he had created and posted the image “for fun,” according to local reports.

He is being investigated on suspicion of obstructing official duties through deception, an offence that carries a potential penalty of up to five years in prison or a fine of up to 10 million Korean won.

The case unfolded during a widely followed search for Neukgu, a two-year-old wolf that escaped from O-World. The animal was recaptured near an expressway nine days after its escape.

The incident drew nationwide attention, including from President Lee Jae Myung, who publicly expressed hope for the wolf’s safe return.

Neukgu is part of a conservation initiative aimed at restoring the Korean wolf, a species once native to the peninsula but now considered extinct in the wild. Since being returned to the zoo, the animal has sparked local interest in Daejeon, including themed food items and discussions about naming it an official city mascot.

A video released by the zoo showing Neukgu eating in his enclosure has drawn more than one million views. Zoo officials later said they would stop posting updates to provide a quieter environment for the animal’s recovery.(MyTVCebu)