A Chinese teenager has been arrested by police after illegally listening in on radio communications between the control tower and aircraft from the observation deck at Jeju International Airport.
The Jeju Provincial Police Agency announced that it has booked a Chinese national in his teens, identified as A, without detention on charges of violating the Protection of Communications Secrets Act.
A is suspected of using a two-way radio he brought in advance from China to illegally listen to aviation control communications for about 30 minutes from the observation deck of Jeju Airport at around 9:00 a.m. on August 27.
The radio is reportedly not a professional-grade device, such as those used by the military.
Police investigations revealed that A headed straight to the airport observation deck shortly after entering Jeju alone at around 7:30 a.m. that same day.
At the time, another visitor at the observation deck reported A's suspicious behavior to the airport, and an employee dispatched to the scene subsequently notified the police, according to reports.
A was arrested at the scene by responding police officers.
As a result of the investigation, A, who was found to be unemployed, had also entered the country on August 24 and had frequently traveled to Jeju alone in the past.
Numerous photos capturing at least two other domestic airport facilities outside of Jeju were found on the camera in A's possession.
Police believe there are several suspicious circumstances given that the teenager, who lacks distinct financial means, repeatedly entered the country on his own to photograph major national facilities and listen in on communications.
Police have placed a travel ban on A and are intensively investigating his specific motives for the crime, as well as any possible connections to espionage or anti-state activities.
(Reported by Lee Hyeon-yeong | Video by Lee Yu-jin | Design by Lee Su-min | Produced by SBS Digital News)
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