Jeju Missing-Person Case Sparks Conspiracy Theories, Including Claims of a Chinese Threat

Other claims are also circulating, including suspicions of collusion between police and criminal groups and theories of a Chinese invasion or illegal immigration to Jeju.

Several suspicious points have been raised about the AC case. First, there are circumstances that make a suicide hard to accept, and no suicide note was found. Although the body was found in a place difficult for the general public to reach, its condition and the way it was discovered conflict with survival instincts, which deepened the suspicion. Moreover, allegations that 118 CCTV cameras near the last known location were deleted, along with the past misconduct record of Officer B, a patrol officer in charge of the case, have intensified distrust in the police investigation.

The system is designed so that a missing-person case can be closed without approval from a supervisor. In fact, as of 2025, 99.7% of adult missing-person reports were closed without any search, revealing the weakness of the search system.

Contrary to the police announcement, a fracture of the hyoid bone was found in AC's body, further eroding trust in the police account. It was also pointed out that the Nowon Police Station had been negligent in its initial response to AC's missing-person report. In particular, the difference in the speed of searches for a Korean missing person and a Chinese exchange student missing person led to allegations of discriminatory investigation, fueling public anger.

The fact that organ removal cannot be confirmed from a decomposed body, along with the fingerprint-less state of the corpse, is further fueling these suspicions. Such speculation is amplifying public anxiety.

Past cases of mutilated bodies and discovered lower-body remains have been cited, and claims have emerged that a criminal group could carry out a perfect crime by abducting victims and covering up the case with help from insiders in the police. There are also suspicions that police cover-ups could be disguised as suicides.

However, this theory has the limitation of being little more than speculation, since the perpetrator has not been clearly identified. It has not yet been determined who killed AC. Critics point out that the spread of these theories has led to a decline in tourists to Jeju and only heightened public anxiety. Others argue that blame should fall on the police and the actual criminals.

The perception that Chinese crime has increased on Jeju since the introduction of the visa-free policy for Chinese nationals forms the background of this theory.

Jeju began its visa-free policy for Chinese nationals in 1998, abolished the fingerprint registration system in 2003, and introduced an investment immigration program in 2010, pursuing pro-China policies. Critics argue, however, that Chinese nationals have formed their own cartel on Jeju, using only facilities run by Chinese people, and contribute little to the Korean economy. Some claim these policies instead paved the way for Chinese capital to take over.

Hyper-security refers to an 'unrestricted warfare' strategy that invades other countries through diplomacy, espionage, psychological warfare, and other means besides armed force. The concern is that Jeju, with its closed geography, is easy to occupy, which is why China would single it out over other regions.

One Jeju-related theory holds that Chinese nationals will stir up issues on Jeju to drive down tourism and property prices, then take over Jeju's land and tourism industry at bargain prices. This theory extends to claims of politicians being bought to implement pro-China policies and suspicions of China collusion across the political spectrum. Some circles even view ordinary diplomatic activity as treasonous, reflecting a spreading conspiratorial outlook.

Jeju has seen a series of questionable incidents linked to China. Two Chinese secret police stations were found operating on the island, there have been cases of illegal Chinese immigrants landing on the coast by rubber boat and smuggling tonic medicines, and suspicions of espionage through Confucius Institutes and leakage of genetic data have been raised. Concerns have also been voiced over the destruction of Jeju's scenic beauty by haphazard development funded by Chinese capital.

Chilgwang-gu, located south of Jeju, is an important sea area estimated to hold up to 14 billion barrels of oil and gas. With the Korea-Japan joint development agreement set to expire in 2028, concern has been raised that China could leverage its influence over Jeju to assert sovereignty over Chilgwang-gu. This goes beyond a mere economic interest and carries the potential to escalate into a territorial dispute.

Recently, a view has spread that China is behind alleged election fraud. Many people cite suspicions of computer manipulation by the National Election Commission and controversy over Chinese vote-counting staff, claiming that past presidents were elected through Chinese election rigging. The Wang Ning video and doubts about the establishment of a global election body are also lending weight to this conspiracy theory.

Such theories are speculation manufactured to exploit the public politically and carry the risk of causing social upheaval. Vigilance against the spread of conspiracy theories is therefore needed.