On January 10th, South Korean authorities announced that a Chinese tourist had been arrested for illegally using a drone to film Jeju International Airport.
According to the Korea Times, the Jeju Police Department stated that the Chinese tourist is suspected of operating an unauthorized drone in a location approximately 2 kilometers from the runway of Jeju Airport without permission, on the afternoon of December 31st last year, to capture footage of the airport.
The South Korean police are investigating him on charges of violating the Aviation Safety Act, and will collaborate with the National Intelligence Service and Jeju National Airport management to determine if he had intentions related to terrorism or espionage. The identity of the tourist has not been disclosed by the authorities.
Jeju International Airport is classified as one of South Korea’s highest-level national security facilities. Flying drones within a 9.3-kilometer radius around the airport is strictly prohibited. Last year, the sighting of objects resembling drones in the airspace over Jeju Airport resulted in temporary flight suspensions.
In November of last year, there was another incident involving a Chinese tourist suspected of using a drone to film the South Korean National Intelligence Service. The tourist was detained for investigation by the police, released later on, but placed under a travel ban.
South Korean media reports indicate that this individual was filming a location in the Roca area using a drone, and also captured footage of the nearby National Intelligence Service building.
This article is based on reports from the Korea Times.