U.S. Air Force's C-5M Super Galaxy aircraft at Osan Air Base in Pyeongtaek.REUTERS/YONHAP
Three student activists who trespassed on a U.S. air base in Pyeongtaek, Gyeonggi, were taken into detention on Thursday. A detention warrant sought for a fourth student was rejected.
The three belong to the Korean University Progressive Union (translated) and are accused of violating the Protection of Military Bases and Installations Act.
The Pyeongtaek branch of the Suwon District Court questioned all four on Thursday afternoon before ruling.
Eight students, four men and four women, are accused of attempting to run through the main gate of Osan Air Base, also known as K-55, at about 10:15 a.m. Tuesday. Six entered the compound, while the other two were stopped at the entrance.
The students, who also filmed themselves during the intrusion, were seen chanting anti-U.S. military catchphrases as they went.
“Let's smash the Seventh Air Force, which is obstructing the [Gwangju and Jeolla] semiconductor complex,” they said.
U.S. Forces Korea (USFK) arrested all eight at the scene and handed them over to Korean police. The police sought detention warrants for the four they judged to have committed the most serious offense and released the other four.
The Suwon District Court issued detention warrants for three of them. “There is a risk of destroying evidence and fleeing,” it said, while rejecting it for the fourth student, citing lack of evidence.
The three ordered detained invoked their right to remain silent during questioning, police said.
C-5 and C-17 U.S. military transport aircraft wait on the tarmac at Osan Air Base in Pyeongtaek, Gyeonggi, on Mar. 6.YONHAP
Under the Protection of Military Bases and Installations Act, entering a controlled zone at a military installation carries up to one year in prison or a fine of up to 10 million won ($7,000). Filming, depicting, recording or measuring a military installation carries up to three years in prison or a fine of up to 30 million won.
The Korean University Progressive Union has criticized Osan Air Base and USFK since the detentions, and demanded that the detained students be freed.
The group claimed it was protesting against USFK, saying the base is obstructing construction of the semiconductor plant in the Jeolla region.
It also said the recent leak of white phosphorus, a toxic substance, on the base shows the U.S. military presence endangers Korea's security.
The Korean government has picked the site of Gwangju Air Base, used jointly by the Korean and U.S. air forces, for the upcoming semiconductor complex. Seoul and Washington opened talks in July on relocating the base. The Seventh Air Force, which is headquartered at Osan, has said Gwangju holds important military interests.
The U.S. military said Thursday that testing found no white phosphorus at Osan. The 51st Fighter Wing said crystallization and residue found during a routine munitions inspection on July 28 were nonhazardous surface corrosion caused by exposure to the environment over time.
Police will continue investigating the three in custody before referring the case to prosecutors. They also plan further questioning of the students who were not detained.
BY PARK JONG-SUH [cho.yongjun1@joongang.co.kr]
This article was originally written in Korean and translated by a bilingual reporter with the help of generative AI tools. It was then edited by a native English-speaking editor. All AI-assisted translations are reviewed and refined by our newsroom.
