Two former Chinese military personnel arrested in South Korea for espionage

South Korean police arrest two former Chinese military servicemembers on espionage charges on August 10, 2026. One suspect, in his 60s, allegedly intercepted communications between South Korean and U.S. fighter jets and air traffic controllers since 2024. The other, in his 40s, allegedly collected intelligence on U.S.-South Korean military drills and weapon movements from the U.S. military headquarters near Seoul, paying a South Korean woman working at the command for information.

Chinese espionage arrests

• ▪A Chinese national in his 60s, who is a former Chinese military servicemember, was arrested in South Korea on Monday, August 10, 2026, for violating laws on aiding the enemy and protecting communication secrets.
• ▪South Korean police arrested two former Chinese military servicemembers on Monday, August 10, 2026, on espionage charges.

Fighter jet communications interception

• ▪A Chinese national in his 60s allegedly set up an interception device consisting of a software-defined radio receiver, an antenna, and a laptop at a hotel near a joint South Korean-U.S. air base.
• ▪The Chinese national in his 60s is accused of intercepting communications between South Korean and U.S. fighter jet pilots and air traffic controllers several times since 2024.
• ▪South Korean police are conducting a forensic examination of a laptop seized from a Chinese national in his 60s to determine if intercepted communications were relayed to Chinese authorities.
• ▪A Chinese national in his 60s arrested for espionage told South Korean investigators that listening to communications was a hobby and he wanted to listen to fighter jet communications.

U.S. military intelligence collection

• ▪A Chinese national in his 40s is accused of illegally collecting information, including details on U.S.-South Korean military drills and weapon movements, from the U.S. military headquarters near Seoul.
• ▪A Chinese national in his 40s, who runs a military supply store near the U.S. command, argued during questioning that he sought U.S. military information believing it would help his business.

South Korean informant involvement

• ▪South Korean police allege that a Chinese national in his 40s obtained military information from a South Korean woman working at the U.S. command.
• ▪South Korean police suspect that a Chinese national in his 40s and a South Korean woman working at the U.S. command had a romantic relationship, and that he gave her money for information.

U.S.-South Korea military alliance

• ▪The United States stations approximately 28,500 troops in South Korea to help deter potential aggression from North Korea.
• ▪The South Korean police announcement of the espionage arrests occurred on Tuesday, August 11, 2026, one day after South Korean and U.S. militaries announced they would start large-scale annual exercises.