South Korean prosecutors have sought prison terms for Chinese teenagers indicted on charges of illegally filming fighter jets at several South Korea-U.S. military facilities and major international airports in the country.
At a final hearing on Tuesday at the Suwon District Court's Criminal Division 12, presided over by Chief Judge Park Geon-chang, prosecutors sought a prison term of up to four years and a minimum of three years for Student A, and four years in prison for Student B. Both are Chinese high school students facing charges including general benefit to the enemy under the criminal code.
Prosecutors also requested the confiscation of cameras and other items used in the offenses. Under the Juvenile Act, minors are subject to indeterminate sentencing, in which both maximum and minimum terms are specified.
"This is a serious criminal act that threatens military security, and we took into account that the defendants have shown no remorse," prosecutors said, explaining the basis for their sentencing request.
In their closing arguments, defense attorneys appealed for leniency, saying, "The defendants are minors and high school students. They were not acting under the direction or support of any specific organization but simply had a hobby of taking aircraft-focused photographs." The attorneys added, "We ask for mercy toward the unlawful acts of immature children."
Student A and the other defendant also bowed their heads in their final statements, saying, "We did not know that something done out of simple curiosity would become such a serious matter. We are deeply remorseful and ask for leniency."
Earlier in the day, during questioning of the defendants, prosecutors and defense attorneys clashed over the contents of a WeChat group chat involving Student B.
Prosecutors pressed the defendants on whether there was a mastermind behind their actions, citing a message Student B had written in the group chat: "C (a chat participant) told us to take the photos. C has given us so much. C said they would pay us money if we took the photos, so that's why we came."
The defense responded, "It was a playful joke exchanged among chat participants, suggesting that if the filming were caught, they would pin C as the ringleader. It is a misunderstanding that arose from interpreting fragments of the conversation literally."
Student A and the other defendant were indicted and detained on charges of entering South Korea three times and twice respectively between the second half of 2024 and March of last year, during which they allegedly took hundreds of detailed photographs of fighter jets taking off and landing, as well as air traffic control facilities.
The sites they visited were confirmed to be four South Korea-U.S. military facilities — Suwon Air Base, Osan Air Base (K-55) in Pyeongtaek, the U.S. military base (K-6) in Pyeongtaek, and Cheongju Air Base — along with three major international airports in Incheon, Gimpo and Jeju.
They were caught by police on March 21 last year, after a resident who spotted them filming fighter jets taking off and landing near Suwon Air Base reported them to authorities.
The general benefit to the enemy provision under the criminal code punishes those who harm South Korea's military interests or provide military benefits to enemy states.
The sentencing hearing is scheduled for May 14 at 10 a.m.
