Were They Meant for the North? What Was Found in the Plastic Bottles

Coast Guard and Police Dispatched After Anglers' Report, Bottles Collected

Investigation Launched Into Dispersal Circumstances and Possible Intent to Send North

Dozens of plastic bottles filled with rice were discovered in the tidal flats of Yeongjong Island, Incheon, prompting a police investigation.

Image unrelated to the article. Yonhap News Agency.

According to the Incheon Yeongjong Police Station, at around 11 p.m. on September 27, anglers reported finding plastic bottles containing rice under the Muui Bridge in the tidal flats of Muui-dong, Yeongjong District. Police and the Coast Guard were dispatched to the scene in response.

The Coast Guard collected about 10 1.5-liter plastic bottles from the tidal flats. However, as the area was difficult to access, only bottles within reach using sticks or similar tools could be retrieved. The person who reported the incident told police that there were approximately 50 to 60 plastic bottles, but the rest are believed to have floated out to sea.

All of the retrieved bottles contained rice, and it was reported that 1–2 of them also contained U.S. one-dollar bills.

The police plan to review nearby CCTV footage, interview witnesses, and examine fingerprint evidence to identify those responsible for distributing the bottles and to pinpoint the exact location where the bottles were released. They will also investigate whether there was intent to send the bottles northward.

Previously in Incheon, there have been several attempts, especially centered around Ganghwa Island near the North Korean border, to send bottles filled with rice, Bibles, or U.S. currency northward. In June of last year, six Americans were apprehended by police as they attempted to launch approximately 1,300 bottles containing rice, one-dollar bills, and Bibles for missionary purposes. According to police statements at the time, these individuals, ranging from their 20s to 50s, testified that they had come from the United States for missionary activities.

In November 2024, a man in his 50s was arrested near the Seokmo Bridge in Ganghwa Island for attempting to set afloat 121 plastic bottles filled with rice, on charges of violating the Framework Act on the Management of Disasters and Safety (Disaster Safety Act). Ganghwa County has designated its entire jurisdiction as a danger zone under this law, banning the launch of leaflets and goods toward the North.

In contrast, Yeongjong District, where the bottles were discovered this time, is not part of the designated danger zone, making it difficult to prosecute under the Disaster Safety Act, even if it is confirmed that someone attempted to send the bottles northward from Yeongjong Island.

The police are considering applying charges for violating the Act on the Management and Reclamation of Public Waters if illegal dumping of bottles is confirmed. This law prohibits discharging waste or pollutants into public waters.

Meanwhile, a police official stated, "The exact location where the bottles were released has not yet been identified," and added, "We are keeping all possibilities open as we continue the investigation."

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