"Photographs Must Comply with Local Laws and Regulations"
Recently, after a Chinese student studying in South Korea was arrested for illegally filming U.S. military facilities with a drone, the Chinese Embassy in South Korea issued a warning to its students in the country.
On July 1, the Chinese Embassy posted on social media a notice titled "Summer Safety Guidelines for Chinese Students," which included general precautions. The embassy specifically advised, "When taking photographs, you must comply with local laws and regulations. Be cautious when using drones and when filming with drones."
The embassy further emphasized, "Under South Korean law, it is strictly prohibited to film military bases and military facilities without permission. Be careful not to take photographs in sensitive locations, such as no-fly zones and restricted photography areas."
On June 26, Chinese students attending a university in Busan were arrested on charges of illegally filming U.S. military facilities with a drone. The Busan Metropolitan Police Agency detained a Chinese student, referred to as A, who led the incident, on charges of violating the National Security Act and the Military Base and Installation Protection Act. The other two individuals were booked, one in custody and one without detention, on charges of violating the Military Base and Installation Protection Act. This is the first time that a foreign national has been detained in South Korea on charges of violating both the National Security Act and the Military Base and Installation Protection Act.
A and the others are accused of illegally filming the interior of a South Korean naval base and the U.S. Navy aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt (100,000-ton class) near the Republic of Korea Fleet Command in Nam-gu, Busan, using drones and personal mobile phones on nine occasions between March 2023 and June 2024.
© The Asia Business Daily(www.asiae.co.kr). All rights reserved.
