Police Investigate Suspected Supply of Chinese-Made Equipment for W19.4 Billion Bodycam Project

Police have launched a compulsory investigation following allegations that Chinese-made equipment was supplied for a police bodycam project budgeted at roughly 19.4 billion won to strengthen security.

The Anti-Terrorism and Counter-Espionage Investigation Division of the Gyeongnam Southern Provincial Police Agency is investigating company A, a terminal procurement supplier that delivered bodycams to the Korean National Police Agency, and KT, which was in charge of building the communication network, on charges including fraud under the Act on the Aggravated Punishment, etc. of Specific Economic Crimes and obstruction of official duties by fraudulent means.

These companies formed a consortium last year and were selected as the operators for the police bodycam introduction project.

This project was promoted to replace bodycams that frontline police officers had been purchasing and using with their own money with official equipment, with a total of 19.486 billion won scheduled to be invested by 2029.

Last year, the police distributed approximately 14,000 bodycams to the field through this project.

Bodycams are mobile cameras attached to the body to record scenes, and the recorded footage is transmitted to the National Information Resources Service through wireless repeaters.

During last year's bidding briefing session, the police advised against using Chinese-made terminals to prevent security issues such as hacking or video tampering of commercial products.

This was because security was key, as the recorded footage is transmitted directly to the National Information Resources Service.

In response, the supplier reportedly explained that it would supply them through an OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturer) method at a factory in Taiwan.

However, the police recently received a tip from a company that failed to be selected as a business operator, stating that "the supplied bodycams are similar in function and appearance to products from a Chinese company," prompting the police to launch an investigation.

The police conducted raids on KT and Company A to secure related materials and are also questioning relevant individuals.

They have requested an appraisal from a professional organization to determine whether the supplied bodycams and the Chinese-made products are identical.

(Photo provided by Gyeongnam Southern Provincial Police Agency, Yonhap News)
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.