About 200 Chinese electric vehicles equipped with cameras and communication equipment have been found to be freely entering and exiting South Korean military facilities.
They were found to be accessing not only the compounds of the Ministry of National Defense and the Joint Chiefs of Staff, but also Air Force bases where state-of-the-art F-35 stealth fighters and domestically developed supersonic KF-21 fighter jets are stationed, as well as the Navy's Submarine Command, where confidentiality is critical.
According to an investigation by the office of Representative Kang Dae-sik of the People Power Party, at least some 190 internet-connected Chinese "connected cars," including BYD vehicles, are currently registered for entry with the Ministry of National Defense and the Army, Navy, and Air Force.
In particular, BYD vehicles were registered for access to the Naval Operations Command in Busan, where U.S. aircraft carriers dock and a high level of security is required; the Submarine Command in Jinhae, South Gyeongsang Province, where submarine-related security is paramount; the 17th Fighter Wing in Cheongju, North Chungcheong Province, where F-35s are deployed; and the 16th Fighter Wing in Yecheon, North Gyeongsang Province, where the first KF-21 aircraft was delivered last month.
Connected cars are equipped with about 10 cameras, high-precision GPS coordinate systems, radars, and microphones, allowing them to transmit collected information over the internet.
The United States and the European Union have raised concerns that information gathered by Chinese-made connected cars could flow into Chinese intelligence agencies in real time.
Chinese connected cars are also reportedly registered at the Army Headquarters in Gyeryongdae, South Chungcheong Province, the Ground Operations Command in Yongin, Gyeonggi Province, and the Special Warfare Command.
Chinese-made vehicles are freely roaming military installations where even iPhones are banned due to security concerns.
The Ministry of National Defense has yet to take security measures such as entry bans on connected cars, nor has it requested security-related cooperation from vehicle manufacturers.
Although it concluded in a meeting last April that "there are security vulnerabilities when collecting visual information on military-related facilities," it merely stated in a meeting last September that it would push forward with establishing security measures.
Rep. Kang pointed out, "Information on military facilities could be transferred to China in real time, yet our government's awareness and response are severely lacking."
(Reported by Kim Minjeong | Video by Kim Kihyun | Graphics by Yang Hye-min | Produced by SBS Digital News)
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