A Chinese tourist was recently arrested for allegedly operating a drone near Jeju International Airport, a top-level national security facility on Jeju Island, South Korea, according to the Jeju Provincial Police Agency.
The individual, whose identity has not been disclosed, reportedly flew an unauthorised drone approximately 2 kilometres from the airport’s runway on the afternoon of 31 December 2024. The drone was used to film the airport, violating the Aviation Safety Act.
Jeju International Airport is protected by a 9.3-kilometre no-drone zone to safeguard national security. The police are working alongside the National Intelligence Service and airport authorities to determine whether the incident is linked to potential terrorism or espionage.
This follows a separate incident in 2023 when a suspected drone sighting over Jeju Airport led to a temporary suspension of flights, causing disruption for passengers.
Authorities are continuing their investigation into the recent case.