Suwon: Two Chinese nationals were sentenced to prison on Thursday for illegally filming fighter jets at various South Korean and U.S. military facilities and attempting to intercept traffic control communications. The Suwon District Court handed down an indeterminate prison term of 1 1/2 to two years for an 18-year-old Chinese high school student, and a two-year prison sentence for a 20-year-old Chinese man, both charged with general treason.
According to Yonhap News Agency, this case marks the first time in South Korea that a foreigner has been convicted of general treason under the Criminal Act. The court also ordered the confiscation of their cameras and other items used in the crime. The two individuals were arrested and indicted for capturing hundreds of detailed photos of fighter jets during multiple visits to major air bases in South Korea between the latter half of 2024 and March of the previous year, when both were still high school students.
The duo was found to have visited four South Korean and U.S. military facilities located in Suwon, Osan, Pyeongtaek, and Cheongju, in addition to three major international airports: Incheon, Gimpo, and Jeju. They were apprehended by police in March of the previous year after a resident reported them for illegally filming aircraft at Suwon Air Base.
The court concluded that the defendants were guilty of all charges, emphasizing that their actions constituted treason that could jeopardize South Korea's military interests. The court asserted the necessity for severe punishment, as the photographs revealed aircraft deployment statuses and primary missions of the air bases, severely compromising national security.
In another case in Busan, additional Chinese nationals have been indicted for the illegal filming of a U.S. aircraft carrier, though a verdict has yet to be announced.