Were the Bottles Intended for the North? Plastic Bottles with Rice and Dollar Bills Found in Yeongjong Island Mudflats

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 mudflats of Yeongjong Island, Incheon, prompting the police to launch an investigation.

Image unrelated to the article. Yonhap News Agency.

According to the Yeongjong Police Station in Incheon on September 28, police and coast guard officers were dispatched to the scene the previous night at around 11:00 p.m. after anglers reported finding plastic bottles filled with rice under the Muui Bridge in the mudflats of Muui-dong, Yeongjong District.

The coast guard found and collected about 10 1.5-liter plastic bottles from the mudflats. Due to the difficulty of entering the mudflat area, only the bottles that could be reached using sticks or other tools were collected. The person who reported the incident told the police that there were about 50 to 60 bottles, but the rest are presumed to have been washed away by the sea.

All of the recovered bottles contained rice, and it was reported that one or two of them also contained one-dollar bills.

The police plan to identify the person who distributed the bottles and determine the exact dispersal location by reviewing nearby closed-circuit television (CCTV) footage, witness statements, and conducting fingerprint analysis. They also intend to investigate whether there was an attempt to send the bottles north.

Previously in Incheon, there were several attempts, mainly centering on Ganghwa Island near the North Korean border, to send rice, Bibles, or U.S. dollar bills in plastic bottles to the north. In June last year, six Americans were apprehended by police while attempting to disperse approximately 1,300 plastic bottles containing rice, one-dollar bills, and Bibles for missionary purposes. During the investigation, these individuals, who were in their 20s to 50s, stated that they had come from the United States to carry out missionary activities.

In November 2024, a man in his 50s was arrested by police near Seokmo Bridge on Ganghwa Island for attempting to release 121 plastic bottles filled with rice into the sea, in violation of the Framework Act on the Management of Disasters and Safety. Ganghwa County has designated its entire jurisdiction as a danger zone under this act, and prohibits the distribution of leaflets and materials toward North Korea.

By contrast, Yeongjong District, where the bottles were found this time, is not included in the designated danger zone, so even if it is confirmed that the bottles were released from Yeongjong Island toward the north, it will likely be difficult to impose penalties under the disaster safety law.

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

Meanwhile, a police official stated, "The location where the bottles were released has not yet been identified," and added, "We plan to proceed with the investigation, keeping various possibilities open."

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