Gang Targeting 4-Ton Hallasan 'Ppoppaiseok' Dropped It on the Trail, Ultimately...

Unauthorized Extraction of Approximately 4 Tons of Natural Stone

A group attempting to steal natural stones from Hallasan Mountain in Jeju in the middle of the night has been handed over to the prosecution.

The Jeju Autonomous Police Agency announced on the 5th that they arrested two individuals who attempted to steal natural stones near Hallasan National Park and sent Mr. A (in his 70s) to prosecution in custody and Mr. B (in his 50s) without detention on charges of violating the Act on the Creation and Management of Forest Resources.

A 4-ton natural stone stolen near Hallasan National Park and dropped on a hiking trail while being transported by truck.
[Photo by Jeju Autonomous Police Agency]

Mr. A and others are accused of cutting surrounding trees with electric saws from the afternoon of July 21 until the early morning of the next day near a valley in Hallasan National Park to secure a vehicle access road, and using various equipment such as pulleys and ropes to excavate a natural stone weighing about 4 tons.

However, while transporting the natural stone about 100 meters by vehicle through the uneven forest, they dropped the stone. Fearing detection by hikers visiting nearby oreums at dawn, they abandoned the natural stone and fled the scene.

The Jeju Autonomous Police began an investigation on the 22nd of the same month following a report from a hiker and apprehended the suspects about 20 days after the crime occurred. They analyzed over 5,200 vehicles during the estimated time of the crime using CCTV installed on major roads accessible to the crime scene. Additionally, about 1,600 call records were examined, along with comparisons of communication base stations and tire forensics.

Investigations revealed that Mr. A committed the crime with the intent to steal and sell the natural stone. It was confirmed that they meticulously planned the crime using forest paths without CCTV coverage during nighttime hours. The Jeju Autonomous Police stated that the natural stone in question is known as ‘Ppoppaiseok’ due to its many holes. Depending on its condition, it is known to be traded at high prices for landscaping purposes.

According to Article 73 of the current Act on the Creation and Management of Forest Resources, anyone who steals forest products at night or using a vehicle shall be punished by imprisonment for not less than one year and not more than ten years.