Two Chinese individuals have been sentenced to prison in South Korea for unlawfully recording fighter jets at various South Korean and US military sites and trying to intercept air traffic control communications. The Suwon District Court handed down an indeterminate prison term of 1 1/2 to two years to an 18-year-old Chinese high school student and a two-year sentence to a 20-year-old Chinese man, both on charges of general treason. This marks the first instance in South Korea of a foreigner being convicted of general treason under the Criminal Act.
The court also mandated the seizure of their cameras and other equipment used in the offense, as reported by Yonhap news agency. The two individuals were apprehended and charged with capturing numerous detailed photographs of fighter jets taking off and landing at major air bases across South Korea during multiple visits between the latter half of 2024 and March of the following year, when they were high school students.
During their visits, they accessed four South Korean and US military facilities in Suwon, Osan, Pyeongtaek, and Cheongju, as well as three major international airports – Incheon, Gimpo, and Jeju. Their activities came to light in March of the previous year when a local resident reported them for illicitly filming fighter jets at Suwon Air Base. The court found the defendants guilty on all counts, emphasizing that their actions constituted treason that posed a threat to South Korea’s military interests. It further stated that severe punishment was justified as the photos disclosed sensitive information about aircraft deployment and primary missions of the air bases, significantly compromising national security.
In a separate incident in Busan, Chinese nationals have been charged with unlawfully recording a US aircraft carrier, although a verdict is pending.
