A veterinarian who helped capture Neukgu, the wolf that escaped from Daejeon O-World, expressed anger over an AI-generated fake image that disrupted the search and triggered chaos on the ground.
On the April 29 broadcast of the tvN variety show You Quiz on the Block, National Institute of Ecology veterinarian Jin Se-rim appeared and shared the behind-the-scenes story of Neukgu’s capture. Recalling the scene, Jin said, "Fire and Rescue, police, the military, and even staff from the Geum River Basin Environmental Office all gathered to save Neukgu, but because of a single AI-made fake photo, more than 200 personnel moved at once," voicing her frustration. She added, "If there hadn’t been that confusion, we could have captured him even sooner."
The bogus image actually forced a change in the search perimeter, causing major confusion at the site. Police arrested a man in his 40s who created and circulated it; he reportedly claimed he did it "for fun."
Jin also detailed the high-stakes capture operation. After news broke of Neukgu’s escape, veterinarians from across the country converged on the scene. Jin said she joined immediately after finishing her rounds, bringing only the bare essentials. From choosing the right anesthetic and dosage to transport methods and airway management, specialists coordinated every detail to execute a systematic plan.
The first attempt to capture Neukgu fell short. "I had a chance at about 17 meters, but his speed was faster than expected, and I missed," Jin confessed. "In that moment, I felt crushing guilt, thinking, 'Neukgu could be in danger.'" Tension spiked further as there was a real possibility he might head toward a nearby expressway.
During the second attempt, Jin fired the tranquilizer again from roughly 22 meters and successfully hit Neukgu. She remained humble, saying, "It wasn’t that I shot well—Neukgu allowed it." She stressed, "Every step worked because everyone fulfilled their role."
Neukgu was ultimately captured nine days after his escape and safely returned to his habitat. The incident reemphasized the importance of rapid, coordinated on-site response—and the chaos that unverified information can unleash.