'Suspect Still at Large' on 21st Day of Tongyeong Murder... Identity of 'Man's Face' Circulating on SNS

Fake Suspect Photo Spreads Online
Concerns Rise Over Secondary Harm

As the investigation into the murder of a woman in her 60s in Tongyeong, South Gyeongsang Province continues to drag on, concerns are mounting over investigation confusion and secondary harm as a fake suspect photo, presumed to have been synthesized by artificial intelligence (AI), spreads rapidly on social networking services (SNS). Unverified information is being recklessly circulated online, fueling hate and stigmatization unrelated to the case.

Fake suspect photo presumed to be synthesized by artificial intelligence (AI). Screenshot from SNS

On July 1, a photo of a man was widely circulated on various social networking services, allegedly showing the suspect in the Tongyeong murder case. The image depicts a well-built man wearing a mask and a hat, with his eyes, eyebrows, and brow ridge clearly visible.

The problem is that this image is spreading without any fact-checking, leading to a flood of speculative comments. Posts feature groundless assumptions and hate-filled remarks targeting specific groups, such as "He looks like a foreigner," "Isn't he a laborer from Central Asia?" and "Another crime by a foreign worker." Regardless of whether the person in the photo is actually the culprit, there are concerns about secondary harm as it fuels xenophobia.

AI-generated fake image...different from photos secured by police

However, it has been confirmed that this photo is unrelated to the actual investigation materials. While the police have obtained CCTV footage capturing a person believed to be the suspect, the upper part of the face is not clearly visible, making it difficult to identify the individual. There is no photo in which the suspect's eyes and facial features are as distinct as in the image circulating on SNS. As a result, it is widely believed that the photo was likely created using AI-based image generation or editing tools.

The police investigating the case also explained that the photo circulating on SNS is different from the actual one. A police official stated, "The photo circulating on SNS was neither provided nor secured by the police and cannot be used as evidence." The official added, "Although we cannot disclose specifics as the investigation is ongoing, we will do our best to quickly apprehend the suspect."

Wanted poster released by the police. Screenshot from Channel A broadcast.

At around 6:34 a.m. on June 10, a woman in her 60s, identified as Ms. A, was found murdered in a house in a village in Tongyeong. The police have been conducting investigations such as interviewing neighbors and analyzing nearby CCTV footage, but more than 20 days have passed, and there is still no trace of the suspect.

It has been determined that the suspect wore a hat, mask, and even gloves at the time of the incident, making it difficult to identify them. Clues to identify the suspect have also been hard to obtain from CCTV cameras installed outside the house, leading the investigation to drag on.

Residents grow anxious as suspect remains at large...Tongyeong City offers psychological support and installs CCTV cameras

With more than 20 days passing since the incident and no news of the suspect's capture, concerns are growing within the local community. In response, Tongyeong City has decided to provide on-site psychological support services for residents experiencing anxiety and trauma due to the incident, and will install additional CCTV cameras in the area by next month.

A city official stated, "As the investigation is ongoing, it is important for the city to move quickly to provide support so that residents' anxiety does not increase further," adding, "We will do our utmost to help residents return to their daily lives with peace of mind through psychological support and by strengthening safety infrastructure."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.