"Claims of Organ Trafficking Ring in Jeju"... Island Once Famous for Its Pristine Nature Plagued by Unfounded Rumors

Wild Rumors Follow Every Major Incident for Over a Decade
All Proven False, but Jeju Residents Bear the Consequences

Each time a shocking incident occurs in Jeju, a wave of unverified rumors quickly spreads, compounding anxiety about the region. There is growing concern that when unsubstantiated stories are mixed with real events and distributed online, they can escalate into an exaggerated sense of fear that "all of Jeju is dangerous." This, in turn, results in direct harm to residents, such as those in the tourism industry and local business owners. For this reason, experts stress that it is crucial to respond firmly to unfounded rumors.

According to Yonhap News on September 5, a "Jeju Missing Persons Map" surfaced online after the case of Ms. Jang, a woman in her thirties reported missing in Hallim-eup, Jeju City last May. Unfounded allegations such as "There is an organ trafficking organization in Jeju" and "Certain countries are colluding with the police" also spread, despite a lack of corroboration.

The 'Jeju Missing Persons Map' that recently appeared on social networking services (SNS). Screenshot from SNS

It was belatedly revealed that the police officer in charge of Ms. Jang's case falsely closed the investigation without confirming her whereabouts or safety. Ms. Jang was found deceased after about 100 days after her disappearance, on August 24. Coincidentally, between August 22 and August 24, four people who had previously been reported missing — including Ms. Jang — were found dead in different areas: Hallim-eup, Aewol-eup, Jocheon-eup, and Gujwa-eup in Jeju City. In response, online communities quickly spread the so-called "Jeju Missing Persons Map," showing the locations and times these cases were discovered, and some users began to speculate that these incidents were all part of a single crime.

On platforms such as YouTube and social networking services, further unconfirmed claims emerged, such as the existence of an organ trafficking ring in Jeju. Some coined the term "Gyulbodia," combining "Gyul," a type of tangerine symbolizing Jeju, with "Cambodia," in reference to the site of criminal confinement of Korean nationals. Nevertheless, as of now, there is no evidence linking the four deceased individuals' cases. Nor is there any proof supporting claims of involvement by an organ trafficking organization, or that these incidents are connected to specific countries or foreign criminal groups.

Anxiety fueled by unfounded rumors following shocking incidents in Jeju is nothing new.

The online post about the "Jeju Serial Disappearance" that spread during the outbreak of the Yemen refugee issue in 2018. Yonhap News

After a woman in her forties walking the Jeju Olle Trail was murdered in July 2012, a rumor spread rapidly through SNS that "A group of nine ethnic Koreans from China kidnapped two women in Jeju." Police investigations later confirmed this was completely untrue; the rumor began when a female middle school student posted an unchecked story she heard from a friend to the internet.

During the outbreak of the Yemen refugee issue in 2018, online posts about a "Jeju Serial Disappearance" spread across the internet. They claimed that six female bodies had been found in Jeju within a month of the refugees’ arrival, but some cases were duplicated or false, and there was no evidence of homicide in any of the actual deaths.

In 2019, when Go Yujeong's ex-husband was murdered, numerous rumors circulated, causing unrelated rental car companies to suffer reputational damage.

For over a decade, each high-profile crime in Jeju has been followed by the spread of such unverified rumors, escalating anxiety about individual incidents into a generalized public concern about safety and security across the entire island. This problem has worsened recently as rumors now spread rapidly through SNS and YouTube, and sophisticated fake information can be produced by artificial intelligence (AI), making it increasingly difficult to discern what is true from what is false.

This effect is especially severe in Jeju, where the economy relies heavily on tourism. If baseless perceptions such as "Jeju is full of crime" or "Traveling there is dangerous" become widespread, the resulting damage ultimately impacts not only the tourism industry and self-employed workers, but also the entire local population. In fact, some recent tourists to Jeju have commented, "I feel anxious," and, "I'm afraid to go out at night," following recent events.

Industry insiders are concerned that each new report related to such incident might dampen demand for travel to Jeju. The Jeju Tourism Association stated, "Unsubstantiated speculation and information are spreading uncontrollably online," and expressed "deep concern about the situation where Jeju is being labeled as a wholly dangerous region." The association added, "Even a single incident or accident can cause significant anxiety among tourists, which we take very seriously," and emphasized, "We will strengthen safety measures at all tourism sites."

The Jeju provincial government is using this incident as an opportunity to address gaps in its safety network. Plans are underway to upgrade 75% of all CCTV systems to AI-based technology by 2030 and to extend the video storage period from the current 30 days to 60 days. In addition, a "Safe Travel Organization" for solo travelers to Jeju will be established. Other measures include increasing patrols in remote areas such as the Olle Trail, coastlines, and Oreum, as well as adding more streetlights and lighting in dark areas of tourist hotspots.

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