SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — South Korean authorities have arrested two former members of China’s military on suspicion of spying, alleging they gathered sensitive military-related information that included intercepted fighter jet communications and details about the movement of U.S. weapons, police said Tuesday.
According to police, one suspect, a Chinese man in his 60s, allegedly installed a surveillance setup inside a hotel near an air base in southern South Korea that is jointly operated by South Korean and U.S. air forces. The equipment reportedly included a software-defined radio receiver, an antenna and a laptop.
Investigators said the man is suspected of repeatedly listening in on communications since 2024 between fighter jets operated by South Korean and American pilots and air traffic controllers stationed at the base.
Police said the suspect had previously served in the Chinese military, though they declined to provide additional identifying details.
In a statement, police said he was taken into custody Monday on allegations of violating laws related to aiding the enemy and protecting confidential communications.
Authorities are now carrying out a forensic review of his laptop to determine whether any intercepted communications were passed on to Chinese officials, police said.
The man reportedly told investigators that monitoring radio exchanges between civilian aircraft and air traffic controllers was a personal hobby, and that he had become interested in listening to fighter jet communications as well.
Police said a second suspect, a Chinese man in his 40s, was also arrested Monday. He is accused of unlawfully collecting information from the U.S. military headquarters near Seoul, including details on joint U.S.-South Korea military exercises, images showing weapons movements at the facility and personnel changes involving senior U.S. military officers.
Police allege that he obtained some of the information from a South Korean woman working at the US command.
Police say he gave her money in return for the information and they suspect the pair had a romantic relationship.
The man, who runs a military supply store near the US command, argued during questioning that he sought the information believing it would help his business.
Police said the man also previously served in the Chinese military. Police said he violated laws on aiding the enemy and protecting military installations in South Korea.
Calls to the Chinese Embassy in Seoul were unanswered after business hours Tuesday.
The police announcement came a day after South Korean and US militaries said they would start large-scale annual exercises next week.
The US stations about 28,500 troops in South Korea to help deter potential aggressions from North Korea.
