"Jeju Should Not Be Taken Lightly... Do Not Walk Alone Even in Broad Daylight," Warns Jeju Resident of 7 Years, Hyegul Hong

Physician and Broadcaster Hyegul Hong
"Deeply Saddened by the Jeju Missing Persons News"
"My Intention Is Simply to Urge Caution"

Amid a series of recent missing persons cases in Jeju, Dr. Hyegul Hong, a physician and broadcaster who has been living in Jeju for seven years, posted a message emphasizing the need for caution when traveling alone on the island.

"Jeju Is Beautiful, But Should Not Be Taken Lightly"

Dr. Hyegul Hong, physician and broadcaster. YouTube channel "Medical Channel After Rain"

On the 24th, through his Facebook page, Dr. Hong wrote, "Jeju is truly a beautiful place, but it should never be underestimated." He went on, "When you're riding a bicycle and exploring every corner, you can often find yourself on deserted and isolated roads in villages, even without climbing deep into Hallasan Mountain. If you stray just a bit from Oreum or an Olle Trail, you can easily end up in a spot where no one could hear you even if you shouted."

He continued, "I do not recommend wandering around alone, even in broad daylight or on paved roads. This applies not only to women, but also to well-built men," stressing, "This is advice from my perspective as someone who has lived in Jeju for seven years."

This post elicited a variety of responses from online users. Some commented, "I've become worried because news about missing people is being reported in a disturbing way," "I was planning to spend a month there, but now I feel I should be cautious," and "When did Jeju become such a dangerous place?" among other reactions.

However, as controversy arose over the interpretation that his post implied Jeju is dangerous, Dr. Hong clarified, "Anyone can easily see my love for Jeju from my past activities here," and "My intention was simply to advise caution, not to say that Jeju is dangerous."

He added, "The terrain of Jeju is mostly flat and gentle, so if you walk wherever your feet take you, you may unwittingly end up in a secluded area—this isn't always about crime, as you could even be attacked by stray dogs. Even in Hallim where I live, if you stray from the Olle Trail out of curiosity, you might get lost and end up wandering among vacant houses or factory ruins. Even as a man, I sometimes feel a bit scared. I can only imagine how nervous it might feel for a woman walking alone."

He further stated, "The recent news about missing persons in Jeju is truly heartbreaking. But Jeju is inherently such an attractive place, I believe it will soon regain everyone’s affection." He concluded by saying, "I apologize to anyone who was hurt by my words, and I vow to work even harder for a beautiful and livable Jeju."

Continuous Cases of Missing Persons With Disabilities and Dementia in Jeju... Search Systems to Be Strengthened

The police are conducting a search for the missing person, Jang Miran, in the area around Hallim Port, Hallim-eup, Jeju City, on the 24th. Photo by Yonhap News Agency

Meanwhile, in Jeju, there have continued to be cases of missing persons with intellectual or autistic disabilities and dementia, in addition to those who go missing due to personal distress. The number of missing persons with disabilities or dementia was 291 cases in 2023, 264 cases in 2024, and 269 cases in 2025. This year, up to the end of last month, there have been 135 such cases so far.

To enhance search operations when a person goes missing, the Jeju provincial government has decided to extend the video retention period for public closed-circuit (CC)TV footage and to expand AI-powered coastal monitoring systems. Additionally, in close cooperation with the Autonomous Police Committee, the government plans to thoroughly review all recently handled missing person and crisis cases and to quickly establish a verification system to prevent incidents from being poorly handled due to individual staff judgments.

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