Wild bear sighting in Yongin triggers emergency alert — but caller later says 'maybe a goat'

A report of a wild bear spotted near a hillside in Yongin, Gyeonggi Province prompted local authorities to send out an emergency text alert, but the sighting is now believed to have been a false alarm.

According to Yonhap and other outlets, a person estimated to be in their 70s or 80s called in the report at around 3:56 p.m. Wednesday, saying they had seen "a wild animal that looks like a bear" near a hill in Cheonri, Idong-eup, Cheoin-gu, Yongin.

In response, Yongin city sent an emergency text message at around 6:23 p.m. the same day, warning residents in the area to exercise caution as authorities investigated a report of a wild animal near San 124, Cheonri, Idong-eup.

Fire department officials and other responders who searched the area found no trace of a bear. A nearby bear farm was also checked, and all 11 bears kept there were confirmed to be securely enclosed.

The original caller and their companions also walked back their account when speaking with firefighters on the scene, saying the animal "might not have been a bear" and that it "looked like a goat."

Authorities have since suspended the search, treating the incident as a likely false alarm.