South Korean police have arrested a man for sharing an AI-generated image that misled authorities who were searching for a wolf that had broken out of a zoo in Daejeon city. The 40-year-old unnamed man is accused of disrupting the search by creating and distributing a fake photo purporting to show Neukgu, the wolf, trotting down a road intersection.
The photo, circulated hours after Neukgu went missing on 8 April, prompted authorities to urgently relocate their search operation, sending them on a wild wolf chase. The hunt for two-year-old Neukgu gripped the nation before he was finally caught near an expressway last week, nine days after his escape.
The AI-generated image had prompted the Daejeon city government to issue an emergency text warning residents of a wolf near the intersection and was presented during a press briefing on the runaway wolf, as reported by local media.
Police identified the man as a suspect after reviewing security camera footage and his AI program usage records. It remains unclear whether he intentionally misled authorities by sending the photo during their search or simply shared it online. When questioned, he claimed he did it for fun.
Authorities are investigating him for disrupting government work by deception, a crime that can lead to up to five years in prison or a maximum fine of 10 million Korean won ($6,700; £5,000).
The search for Neukgu, part of a program to restore the Korean wolf, captured public attention, including that of South Korean President Lee Jae Myung, who prayed for the animal’s safe return. Since being safely returned to the zoo, Neukgu has inspired a local craze, with a bakery selling pastries featuring his face and plans to name him an official local mascot.
The photo, circulated hours after Neukgu went missing on 8 April, prompted authorities to urgently relocate their search operation, sending them on a wild wolf chase. The hunt for two-year-old Neukgu gripped the nation before he was finally caught near an expressway last week, nine days after his escape.
The AI-generated image had prompted the Daejeon city government to issue an emergency text warning residents of a wolf near the intersection and was presented during a press briefing on the runaway wolf, as reported by local media.
Police identified the man as a suspect after reviewing security camera footage and his AI program usage records. It remains unclear whether he intentionally misled authorities by sending the photo during their search or simply shared it online. When questioned, he claimed he did it for fun.
Authorities are investigating him for disrupting government work by deception, a crime that can lead to up to five years in prison or a maximum fine of 10 million Korean won ($6,700; £5,000).
The search for Neukgu, part of a program to restore the Korean wolf, captured public attention, including that of South Korean President Lee Jae Myung, who prayed for the animal’s safe return. Since being safely returned to the zoo, Neukgu has inspired a local craze, with a bakery selling pastries featuring his face and plans to name him an official local mascot.
