Taiwanese nationals arrested for US base trespass in Korea, while Chinese suspects released for similar incident
Various fighter jets, including the F-16, are on display during the Osan Air Power Days 2025 Media Day at Osan Air Base in Pyeongtaek, Gyeonggi Province, on May 9. Yonhap
Two Taiwanese nationals were recently arrested for illegally entering a U.S. Air Force base in Korea and photographing fighter jets and military facilities. Two Chinese nationals involved in a similar incident were released without being detained.
According to police, the determining factor was whether the suspects had trespassed into a restricted military area.
The Gyeonggi Nambu Provincial Police said Wednesday that they had requested arrest warrants for two Taiwanese nationals, in their 60s and 40s, who have since been detained on suspicion of violating the Protection of Military Bases and Installations Act.
In contrast, two Chinese nationals previously investigated for the same charge were released shortly after questioning.
According to police, the Taiwanese individuals entered Osan Air Base in Pyeongtaek on Saturday during the “Osan Air Power Days 2025,” despite having been denied entry by U.S. military officials.
They used a gate reserved for Korean citizens and mingled with the crowd to gain unauthorized access. Once inside, they used telephoto lenses to photograph U.S. fighter jets and facilities.
The two Chinese nationals, identified as a father and son, were caught on April 21 near the same air base. Police said they only took photos of aircraft in the sky from outside the base, and that there was no indication of espionage or criminal intent.
They were released the same day, prompting criticism when they returned two days later and repeated the same behavior.
Police said the photos taken by the Taiwanese nationals posed a serious risk to base security, while the Chinese nationals’ images did not appear to breach the law.
Authorities also confirmed that two Chinese teenagers are under investigation for taking unauthorized photos of aircraft near Suwon Air Base and other U.S. military facilities, including K-6 in Pyeongtaek, using DSLR cameras and smartphones.
This article from the Hankook Ilbo, the sister publication of The Korea Times, is translated by generative AI and edited by The Korea Times.