A Chinese national who was arrested for capturing images of the National Intelligence Service building with a drone was released late at night on the 10th. The Seoul Seocho Police Station announced on the 11th that they sent a Chinese man in his 40s, known as Mr. A, home after two days of investigation for violating aviation safety laws. A police representative stated, “We intend to continue the investigation of Mr. A without detention.”
Although Mr. A is reportedly planning to return to his home country soon, the police have imposed an exit ban on him. This exit ban is a restriction applied to foreigners.
According to the police, Mr. A was caught red-handed on the afternoon of the 9th, at around 2:10 PM, while flying a drone over Heonin Tomb, a designated private historical site No. 194, in Naegok-dong, Gangnam. During this time, he inadvertently filmed the nearby National Intelligence Service building.
So far, no espionage suspicions have been identified, but to further ascertain, authorities are investigating the circumstances of Mr. A’s actions and his movements after entering the country.