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![[Editorial] Absurd clause](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fall-logos-bucket.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fkoreaherald.com.png&w=48&q=75){kind=small}
Korea Herald
14-05-2025
- Politics
- Korea Herald
[Editorial] Absurd clause
Chinese seek THAAD, USFK secrets through Korean soldier; criminal law revision needed The full story of an apparent Chinese espionage maneuver to obtain military secrets through a South Korean active duty soldier was revealed Monday. A Chinese national was indicted last month in connection with the case. The indictment, secured by the office of Joo Jin-woo, a National Assembly member of the ruling People Power Party, was disclosed to the media on Tuesday. According to the indictment, the Defense Counterintelligence Command caught the man trying to get USBs containing sensitive military information from the soldier on Jeju Island in March. The man was a contact working for another Chinese national who runs a team affiliated with an intelligence department of the Chinese military. The soldier leaked 21 military secrets to the Chinese intelligence agent and received around 50 million won ($35,000) in return. The Chinese military intelligence agency was found to have sought data on the US missile defense system in South Korea, known as Terminal High Altitude Area Defense, guidelines on nuclear operations and operation plans involving US forces in Korea. The incident causes concern in that the military, the last bastion of South Korea's national security, has been penetrated by a foreign intelligence organization. In recent months, Chinese nationals were caught illegally photographing military and intelligence facilities in South Korea. In June last year, a US aircraft carrier berthed at Busan for a joint drill was video recorded from a nearby hill. Three Chinese students were arrested for flying a drone to do so. In November last year, the Seoul building of the National Intelligence Service was photographed by a Chinese sightseer, who flew a drone over the no-flying zone. In January, the whole view of the Jeju International Airport was video recorded by an unauthorized drone. A Chinese tourist flew it. The Jeju International Airport could be converted into a military base in an emergency. In March, fighters on Suwon Air Base were pictured. Two Chinese teenagers were caught. They also photographed Osan Air Base in Pyeongtaek, Gyeonggi Province, which is used by both South Korean and US forces. They reportedly told police that the photography was part of their hobby, but their argument doesn't sound believable. According to the NIS briefing to related lawmakers late last month, 11 incidents of unauthorized photographing of major facilities in South Korea by Chinese nationals have occured since June last year. But foreign nationals who spy on South Korea cannot be accused of espionage even if indisputable evidence is found. Article 98 of the current criminal law punishes espionage activities "only for an enemy country." An enemy country here means North Korea. Due to this provision, the Chinese national indicted for obtaining military secrets from the active duty soldier will be punished if convicted on charges of violating the Military Secrets Protection Act. Espionage will not be applied. The same goes for the Chinese nationals who photographed military bases and other facilities illegally. Sentences under the Military Secret Protection Act are lighter than those given for espionage. The provision in question was made when the criminal law was first enacted on Sept. 18, 1953, shortly after the Korean War ended in truce. The clause has not been revised since. Seventy two years have passed. The Cold War ended. The concept of an enemy country and patterns of espionage have changed. Intelligence operations have become elaborate and extensive. Last year, ruling and main opposition parties pushed to revise the criminal law to expand the concept of an enemy country to include foreign countries. At first, the opposition Democratic Party of Korea did not oppose revising the law, but abruptly shifted its ground. The bill was stopped in the plenary session of the legislation and judiciary committee. The party reportedly cites the possibility of abusing the revised clause. The US, Japan, China and most other countries punish spies on espionage charges regardless of their nationality. Espionage is a nonpartisan matter. It is directly related to the existence of South Korea. The current article is unrealistic and absurd by any measure.
Korea Herald
07-02-2025
- Climate
- Korea Herald
Heavy snowfall cripples transportation as cold wave continues
Persistent snow leads to multiple road accidents, airport disruptions The heavy snow that blanketed South Korea for two days has caused multiple traffic accidents, disrupted airport schedules, and created hazardous road conditions, prompting authorities to issue weather warnings. Intense snowfall of 3 to 8 centimeters per hour was recorded in parts of Incheon, northwestern and southern Gyeonggi Province, southern inland Gangwon Province and the Chungcheong Provinces on Friday morning. With temperatures at around minus 7 degrees Celsius in Seoul, roads froze overnight, making the morning commute treacherous. While main roads saw some improvement due to snow removal efforts, sidewalks and alleys remained icy, posing hazards for pedestrians. With concerns over traffic congestion, cities across the nation have activated emergency operations, focusing on monitoring road conditions and removing snow to minimize disruptions. The snow also severely impacted air travel, particularly at Jeju International Airport, where strong winds and blizzards forced the cancellation of 51 domestic flights and 12 international flights on Friday. Additional delays are expected as the weather is likely to worsen in the afternoon, a Jeju Airport official said, adding that landing is especially difficult with strong winds and the limited vision. Korean Air canceled all 23 flights departing from Jeju between 10 a.m. and 6:35 p.m., with airline officials warning of further disruptions. Jeju Airport was scheduled to have 187 domestic departures and arrivals, respectively, with 21 international departures and 18 international arrivals on Friday. So far, only 39 domestic departures, 40 domestic arrivals and 10 international departures and 6 international arrivals have taken place. In South Chungcheong Province, a 1-ton truck skidded on an icy highway and collided with a 12-ton truck, critically injuring a man in his 70s. In Gangwon Province's Hongcheon County, a 72-year-old man was fatally struck by a sliding tow truck near a resort on Thursday night. A bus carrying 26 passengers also lost control on an icy road in the same area, injuring four people. Additional collisions were reported in Suwon, Gyeonggi Province, Yeosu, South Jeolla Province and Eumseong, North Chungcheong Province with authorities struggling to keep up with road maintenance and rescue operations. The Korea Meteorological Administration warned of continued snowfall in mountainous and inland regions, predicting up to 8 centimeters of additional snow. Authorities urged drivers to check road conditions and equip vehicles with winter gear to prevent further accidents. The cold snap is expected to persist until Sunday, with icy temperatures continuing nationwide. Daytime highs on Friday are expected to range from minus 9 to 4 degrees Celsius, with Seoul recording a high of minus 8 degrees, while wind chills pulled them as low as minus 15 degrees. The cold snap will continue throughout Saturday, with morning lows expected to be between minus 17 and minus 5 degrees and highs from minus 4 to 4 degrees, remaining below seasonal averages. The cold is forecast to ease gradually starting Monday, with daytime highs recovering to above freezing.
