A Taiwanese man in his 30s was arrested on the 29th for filming the building of the National Intelligence Service of Korea, violating local laws protecting military bases and facilities.
The National Intelligence Service (NIS) is South Korea's primary intelligence and national security agency.
According to a report from Central News Agency, the Investigation Unit for Industrial Technology Security of the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency stated that the man was arrested around 12:30 PM on the 29th after being reported for using his phone to film the interior of the NIS building near its main gate.
During police investigation, the man claimed that he was interested in history and was photographing the nearby Heoninneung. Heoninneung is the collective name of the tombs of King Taejong and King Sunjo of the Joseon Dynasty, located in Naegok-dong, Seocho-gu, Seoul, and is listed as a World Cultural Heritage site along with the NIS.
As the man lingered around the entrance of the NIS for a long time, the police are analyzing the man's phone to confirm whether there are any charges related to national security and considering whether to apply for a detention warrant.
Recently, there have been multiple incidents of Chinese nationals illegally photographing sensitive facilities such as South Korean military bases, drawing social concern. Not long ago, two Taiwanese nationals were arrested for illegally entering the U.S. military Osan Air Base to photograph the air show and are still under detention for investigation.