Two former members of the Chinese military have been arrested in South Korea on suspicion of espionage, including allegedly intercepting communications between fighter jets and ground control, and collecting information on the movement of U.S. armaments, authorities said Tuesday.
One suspect, a Chinese national in his 60s, is accused of setting up an interception device near an air base jointly used by South Korean and U.S. forces. Police stated he is accused of intercepting communications between fighter jets and air traffic controllers at the base multiple times since the beginning of 2024. The device reportedly consisted of a software-defined radio receiver, an antenna, and a laptop. The suspect was arrested Monday for violating laws related to aiding the enemy and protecting communication secrets. Investigators are examining his laptop to determine if any intercepted communications were relayed to Chinese authorities. The man told investigators that he considered listening to communications between civilian planes and air traffic controllers a hobby and wanted to extend this to fighter jets.
Authorities also arrested another Chinese man, in his 40s, on Monday. He is accused of illegally collecting information from the U.S. military headquarters near Seoul. This intelligence allegedly included details on U.S.-South Korean military drills, photographs of weapons movements at the headquarters, and personnel changes of senior U.S. military officers. Police allege this second suspect obtained some information from a South Korean woman working at the U.S. command, to whom he allegedly paid money. Investigators suspect the two may have had a romantic relationship. The man, who reportedly runs a military supply store near the U.S. command, claimed during questioning that he sought the information to benefit his business. He also has a prior history of service in the Chinese military and is accused of violating laws related to aiding the enemy and protecting military installations in South Korea.
The arrests come shortly before South Korean and U.S. militaries are scheduled to begin large-scale annual exercises next week. The U.S. maintains approximately 28,500 troops in South Korea as a deterrent against potential aggression from North Korea.