Fake suspect photos spread on social media amid Tongyeong murder mystery, AI manipulation suspected

As police continue their investigation into the murder of a woman in her 60s in Tongyeong, South Gyeongsang Province, photos of a fabricated suspect — likely manipulated using AI or other image-editing tools — are spreading on social media.

A photo purportedly showing the face of the Tongyeong murder suspect has been circulating on Instagram in recent days.

The image shows a heavyset man wearing a mask and hat, with his eyes, eyebrows and brow ridge clearly visible. The lower half of his face is covered, but the relatively prominent brow ridge has prompted speculative comments on the Instagram account where the photo appeared — including "the perpetrator looks like a foreigner" and "judging by the eyes and build, he looks like a Central Asian migrant worker" — raising concerns about xenophobia.

The photo is fake, however. CCTV footage secured by police shows a figure with a similar appearance to the image circulating on social media, but the upper portion of the suspect's face — including the eyes, which could help identify the person — is not clearly captured.

This strongly suggests the photo spreading on social media was manipulated using AI or other image-editing tools.

Police investigating the case also confirmed that the photo circulating on social media does not match the actual footage they have obtained.

"The photo circulating on social media was not provided or secured by police," a police official said, adding that it "cannot be used as evidence."

The case shocked the local community when the woman, identified only as A, was found murdered at a residence in Tongyeong on the morning of June 10 at around 6:34 a.m.

The suspect is believed to have been wearing a hat, mask and gloves at the time, making identification difficult. Police have been conducting door-to-door inquiries and analyzing nearby CCTV footage, but the suspect's whereabouts have remained a mystery for 20 days.

Police confirmed through CCTV footage that the suspect broke into the victim's home at around 2 a.m. on the same day. However, because the crime occurred at night and outdoor CCTV cameras near the residence did not capture details sufficient to identify the suspect, investigators have struggled to secure meaningful leads.

As the investigation stalls, anxiety has grown in the local community.

Posts and comments expressing concern have appeared on local online forums in Tongyeong, with residents writing things like "I'm worried" and "I feel uneasy since the suspect still hasn't been caught."

Police, who responded after the victim's family reported the incident, believe the woman was killed with a bladed weapon at around 2 a.m. on June 10. The suspect is believed to have left the victim's home carrying a bag.

"We are keeping all possibilities open and will do everything in our power to apprehend the suspect," a police official said.