A photo taken inside an office at the Haeundae Police Station in Busan was posted on Chinese social media (SNS), fueling controversy. The photo shows the police workspace and a computer screen exposed as is, prompting security and national security concerns online.
Recently on the Chinese SNS Douyin, several photos of the inside of Haeundae Police Station were posted. The photos were shot from the perspective of someone sitting at an office desk, looking at a work computer and the interior. The poster added the phrase "I work" with the photos.
As the post spread, various speculation and concerns followed online, including "Was a Chinese national hired as a police officer?", "Is it okay to expose a police work screen to the outside?", and "Did Chinese public security visit the police station?"
In response, police said the photos were secretly taken and uploaded when a Chinese tourist visited the traffic division at Haeundae Police Station in November last year to find a lost wallet. At the time, the person was allowed to use a charger on a desk in the office due to a low phone battery, and police believe the photos were taken in the meantime.
However, police say it is difficult to book the person on suspicion of impersonating Korean police based solely on the phrase "I work" in the photo. A police official said, "We are reviewing follow-up measures, including whether to request an investigation."