Streamer talks to stranger claiming to be 23-year-old student, but what viewer notices about him leads to emotional reunion

A South Korean YouTube star named 2ro2 helped police find a missing man and bring him back to his family during a recent livestream. The streamer was broadcasting live on the streets of Gwangju when he ran into a man wearing a blue jacket.

According to Dexerto, the conversation quickly became strange for people watching. The man said he was a 23-year-old college student and that his military service had been delayed. But he looked like he was middle-aged, not in his twenties.

This odd moment could have just been a weird clip from the stream. But one viewer watching noticed something important and acted fast. The viewer sent 2ro2 a missing-person alert that police had issued on November 14.

A livestream viewer’s quick thinking brought a missing man home

The alert matched perfectly with the man 2ro2 was talking to. The notice described a 44-year-old man with the last name Kim. His age, clothes, and location all matched the person in the stream.

2ro2 knew he had to act quickly but carefully. He called the police right away. While waiting for officers to arrive, he kept talking to the man gently, trying not to alarm him. The man walked away at one point, but 2ro2 followed him from a safe distance and kept updating the police on where he was going.

Police arrived soon after and confirmed the man was Mr. Kim. They helped bring him back to his family safely. 2ro2 has over 143,000 YouTube subscribers, and his viewers played a key role in the rescue. In another case of public warnings helping families, a celebrity recently issued urgent advice about protecting children from dangerous products.

This incident has started conversations in South Korea about how digital alerts and online communities help find missing people. According to The Independent, authorities said this case shows how livestreamers and fast reporting are becoming important tools for locating people who are at risk.

South Korea deals with tens of thousands of missing-person cases every year. A government report from May counted 49,624 reports in 2024 alone. That number includes 8,430 people with mental or cognitive disabilities. While police didn’t share details about why Mr. Kim went missing, his safe return shows how valuable these digital tools can be.

Just as a famous founder’s confession years later showed the importance of addressing past mistakes, this reunion highlighted how modern technology can right wrongs quickly.