Caught Filming Military Aircraft and National Intelligence Service Buildings
"Need to Expand Warning Signs and Strengthen Security Systems"
This year, it was confirmed that seven foreign nationals were caught illegally photographing domestic military bases or major military facilities. All of them were from the Greater China region, including China and Taiwan.
On October 8, Yonhap News reported, citing data submitted to Assemblyman Yoo Yongwon of the National Assembly's Defense Committee by the National Police Agency, that a total of seven foreigners had been investigated for violations of the Military Base and Military Installation Protection Act between January and August of this year.
Over the past five years, a total of 14 foreigners have been caught, broken down by year as follows: 2 in 2020, 1 in 2021, 2 in 2022, 0 in 2023, and 2 in 2024, with a sharp increase seen this year.
In particular, among the seven caught this year, four were Chinese nationals and three were Taiwanese. Between March 18 and 21, two Chinese tourists were caught by police photographing military aircraft in areas such as Suwon, Pyeongtaek, and Osan.
Airshow held last May at Osan Air Base, U.S. Air Force in Korea, Pyeongtaek City, Gyeonggi Province. Photo by Yonhap News
On May 10, two Taiwanese tourists entered the Osan Air Base without authorization during an airshow and took about ten photos of military aircraft. It was found that, despite repeated attempts by U.S. military personnel to block their entry, they infiltrated the base through a passageway reserved for domestic visitors. The court sentenced them to one year and six months in prison, suspended for three years.
On May 29 of the same month, a Taiwanese international student was caught photographing a building with a mobile phone in front of the main gate of the National Intelligence Service. On August 19, two Chinese tourists were apprehended for using a drone to film the area around the Jeju Naval Mobile Flotilla Command. Although they claimed they were unaware it was illegal, it was reported that they were in possession of video footage containing the inside of the naval base.
Earlier, in June of this year, Chinese international students were arrested for illegally filming the U.S. Navy aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt with a drone while it was docked at a naval base between March 2023 and June of last year. Some of the photos and videos they took were reportedly distributed without authorization on Chinese social networking services such as TikTok.
Assemblyman Yoo emphasized, "If foreigners illegally photograph our military facilities or power systems and those materials spread online, it can pose a serious threat to national security," adding, "It is necessary to expand the installation of warning signs around the perimeters of military facilities and strengthen security monitoring systems."
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