(EDITORIAL from Korea Herald on Aug. 18)

A recent editorial in the Korea Herald highlights the growing threat of Chinese espionage against South Korea. Two Chinese nationals were arrested in August for allegedly stealing classified information related to US military exercises and intercepting fighter jet communications near a major US base in South Korea. The suspects allegedly recruited a South Korean civilian employee to obtain sensitive information about US command facilities and weapons movements.

Another suspect was caught setting up surveillance equipment near a military airport to eavesdrop on radio communications. Both were former members of China's People's Liberation Army, raising suspicions of organized espionage.

Chinese espionage cases targeting military intelligence in South Korea and US Forces Korea have increased in recent years. High school students were caught photographing fighter jets at a South Korean base, and university students were arrested for filming a US aircraft carrier. In 2024, a Chinese national was arrested for photographing the National Intelligence Service headquarters using a drone. The US Senate and House Armed Services Committees have called for a report on China's malign activities in South Korea.

Despite concerns about China's espionage activities, the Lee Jae Myung administration has moved in the opposite direction. The National Intelligence Service's counterespionage investigative authority was abolished in 2024, and the Defense Counterintelligence Command was split up and dismantled. This raises questions about whether fragmented investigative jurisdictions can effectively prevent sophisticated espionage activities.