A Chinese teenager caught photographing military aircraft near the South Korean Air Force’s 10th Fighter Wing in Suwon, Gyeonggi-do (province), told investigators that his father works for China’s public security bureau, according to officials.
Authorities are looking into the possibility of espionage, noting that the teenagers had pre-booked airline tickets to areas where a U.S. aircraft carrier is scheduled to dock.
Police questioned the Chinese national, identified only as teenager A, on suspicion of violating the Act on the Protection of Military Bases and Installations. During the investigation, officers obtained the statement about his father’s occupation, officials said.
A and another Chinese teen are accused of taking unauthorized photos of fighter jets taking off and landing near Suwon Air Base around 3:30 p.m. on March 21. They allegedly used a DSLR camera and a smartphone to capture the images from a rice field located several hundred meters from the military base.
Police responded after receiving a report from a local resident and brought the two teenagers to the station for questioning. Investigators said they found numerous photos of flying fighter jets on their camera and phone.
During questioning, the teens reportedly said they were aviation enthusiasts who enjoy photographing airplanes as a hobby.
Authorities are now working to verify the claim that A’s father is a member of China’s public security bureau. If confirmed, they plan to look into whether A may have acted under his father’s direction.
The two suspects are high school students in China and entered S. Korea on a tourist visa on March 18, three days before the incident.
Investigators noted that the pair had booked flight tickets in advance to match the expected arrival of a U.S. aircraft carrier, raising suspicions of possible intelligence-gathering activities.
Following the incident, police formally booked both individuals and are investigating whether they may have photographed other military installations, airports, seaports, or other sensitive sites in South Korea since their arrival.
“The case is under investigation, so we can’t provide any details,” a police official said.
