South Korea’s National Intelligence Service (NIS) reported on April 30 that there have been 11 incidents since June last year involving Chinese nationals taking unauthorized photographs of sensitive facilities within South Korean territory. According to the intelligence agency, the targets of these photographs primarily included military installations and critical national infrastructure such as Korean military units, airport and harbor facilities, and the NIS headquarters building.
The NIS made this announcement during a closed-door meeting with the National Assembly’s Intelligence Committee. Most of the individuals involved were tourists or international students, including some minors such as high school students. While these individuals claimed they were merely taking souvenir photos, the NIS noted they were using high-performance cameras and two-way radios to photograph from locations just outside areas covered by the Military Base Security Act.
The intelligence agency believes these actions demonstrate an intent to circumvent relevant Korean legal regulations.
Source: Yonhap News Agency, April 30, 2025
https://cn.yna.co.kr/view/ACK20250430002400881