Seoul: An active duty South Korean soldier, accused of leaking military secrets to a Chinese intelligence organization, has been identified as having a Chinese background. The revelation was made by a South Korean lawmaker on Tuesday, referencing details from the case's indictment.
According to Yonhap News Agency, the Army sergeant, born in China in 2003 to a Chinese mother and a South Korean father, spent the majority of his life in Beijing before beginning his mandatory military service in South Korea in December 2023. The indictment, which was shared with Rep. Kang Dae-sik of the People Power Party, outlines these details.
The soldier, who served in a front-line unit not identified in the report, was indicted earlier this month by military prosecutors on charges of benefiting an enemy. His arrest took place on April 18 following an investigation.
The soldier reportedly came into contact with operatives from the Intelligence Bureau of the Chinese People's Liberation Army's Joint Staff Department after posting images of himself in uniform on Chinese social media platforms. During a vacation in Beijing last August, he allegedly met with a Chinese operative and subsequently received instructions to relay sensitive information regarding the Ulchi Freedom Shield-an annual joint military exercise between South Korea and the U.S.
The leaked documents, drafted by the U.S. military, contained critical information including the names of U.S. Forces Korea bases, troop reinforcement plans, and potential target locations for enemies during a contingency. Additionally, personal details of individuals responsible for tasks related to these military drills were also reportedly passed on to Chinese intelligence.
In exchange for the military secrets, the soldier allegedly received a sum of 88,000 yuan (approximately US$12,200) from a Chinese intelligence entity, spanning from last April to February of this year, as disclosed by Rep. Kang.