"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 recent string of missing persons cases in Jeju, Hyegul Hong, a physician and broadcaster who has lived in Jeju for seven years, posted a message warning people to be cautious when traveling alone on the island.

"Jeju is beautiful, but it should never be taken lightly"

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

On August 24, through his Facebook page, Hong stated, "Jeju is truly a beautiful place, but it should never be taken lightly." He went on, "When cycling around the island, you often pass through deserted roads in neighborhoods, even if you don't venture deep into Hallasan. If you stray even a little from the Oreum or Olle trails, you can easily find yourself somewhere isolated where no one will hear you even if you shout."

He continued, "I don't recommend wandering alone, even in broad daylight or on paved roads. This advice applies not only to women but also to physically strong men. As a resident of Jeju for seven years, this is my advice," he cautioned.

This post sparked a variety of reactions among netizens. Some commented, "It's concerning to see all the news about missing persons," "I was planning to live in Jeju for a month, but now I feel I need to be more careful," and "When did Jeju become such a dangerous place?"

However, as controversy arose over the interpretation that Jeju is dangerous, Hong clarified his remarks by stating, "If you look at where I've been over the years, my love for Jeju is evident at a glance. My intention is to urge caution, not to say that Jeju is dangerous."

He added, "Because the terrain of Jeju is so flat and gentle, if you walk without much thought, you can easily end up in a deserted area where you might even be attacked by stray dogs, even if it's not a crime. Even in Hallim, where I live, if you stray from the Olle trail out of curiosity, you can lose your way and end up wandering around in abandoned houses or factory ruins. Honestly, as a man, there are times I feel a bit scared—imagine how much more frightening it must be for women walking alone."

He further stated, "The recent news about missing persons in Jeju is very heartbreaking. However, Jeju is such an attractive place that I believe people's love for it will soon return. I apologize to those who were hurt by my post, and I pledge to work even harder for a beautiful and livable Jeju."

Missing Disabled Persons and Dementia Patients Also Continue 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, cases of missing persons involving intellectually or developmentally disabled individuals and dementia patients continue to occur, not just those who have lost contact due to personal distress. The number of missing cases among disabled and dementia patients was 291 in 2023, 264 in 2024, and 269 in 2025; this year, as of the end of last month, 135 cases have been reported.

To strengthen search efforts when a person goes missing, Jeju Province is planning to extend the public CCTV footage retention period and expand coastal surveillance systems using artificial intelligence (AI). Additionally, the province plans to work closely with the Autonomous Police Committee to review all recently handled missing and crisis incidents, and quickly establish a verification system to prevent cases from being inadequately handled due to individual judgment by those in charge.

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