Wolf that escaped Daejeon zoo becomes local celebrity, inspires themed pastries and viral memes

 

Neukgu, a wolf that briefly escaped from a zoo in Daejeon, has become an unlikely local celebrity, inspiring themed pastries, viral memes and a surge of interest in the still-closed park where it lives.

 

The animal broke out of Daejeon’s O-World on April 8 by digging a gap beneath the fence of its enclosure. Since being captured nine days later, the wolf has become famous online.

 


 

At a bakery in the city’s Yuseong District, staff began selling so-called Neukgu bread, which is a chocolate cream bun shaped like the wolf’s face. About 50 are made each day and sell out almost immediately.

 

According to the bakery, demand has been so strong that the store has raised the price by 300 won (20 cents) per day since the pastry’s launch. Online, some people have suggested that Sungsimdang — one of the city’s best-known bakeries — should create its own version.

 

The frenzy has spilled over into interest in O-World itself, which has not reopened following the incident.

 

On online marketplaces and forums, users are seeking companions to visit the zoo together once it reopens, with some saying that they have already purchased tickets in advance.

 

“I want to go to Daejeon to see Neukgu,” one user wrote. “While I’m there, I’ll also stop by Sungsimdang and buy some bread.”

 

The wolf’s brief escape has also fueled a wave of memes. Edited images circulating on social media depict Neukgu as a talk show guest recounting its escape, while others jokingly speculate about the reasons behind its breakout.

 

An electronic billboard in Daejeon displays the message ″Neukgu, thank you for coming back″ on April 18. Neukgu is a wolf that briefly escaped from a zoo. [YONHAP]

 

Even local businesses have jumped on the bandwagon. An electronic billboard outside an electronics store in Daejeon recently updated its message from “Neukgu, come back” to “Neukgu, thank you for coming back.”

 

The phenomenon has even extended into sports.

 

After Neukgu was returned to the zoo, local fans jokingly linked its return to a turnaround in results for Daejeon-based teams, as the Hanwha Eagles broke their six-game losing streak with a win against the Lotte Giants on Sunday. The reserve team and local football club Daejeon Hana Citizen also ended their own three-game losing runs.

 

Daejeon Mayor Lee Jang-woo wrote on social media that “with Neukgu back, both football and baseball are winning again.”

 

Neukgu is now recovering at O-World, where representatives say the wolf is in stable condition and regaining strength on a diet of beef and raw chicken.

 

The zoo plans to monitor its health for about 10 more days before reopening its door to the public.

 

“Neukgu is in good condition and appears to be gaining weight,” a zoo representative said.

This article was originally written in Korean and translated by a bilingual reporter with the help of generative AI tools. It was then edited by a native English-speaking editor. All AI-assisted translations are reviewed and refined by our newsroom.

BY KIM BANG-HYUN [[email protected]]