Police requested arrest warrants for four students with the Korea University Advancement Association who trespassed at the U.S. Forces Korea Osan Air Base (K-55), shouted slogans, and filmed video.
Pyeongtaek Police Station in Gyeonggi said on the 6th it sought arrest warrants for four people, including a person surnamed A with the Korea University Advancement Association, on charges of violating the Protection of Military Bases and Installations Act and breaking into a co-owned building.
A hearing to review the arrest warrants is scheduled for the afternoon at the Suwon District Court's Pyeongtaek branch, and a decision on whether to detain them is expected in the late afternoon.
According to police, around 10:15 a.m. on the 4th, a person surnamed A and others entered the base through the K-55 main gate in Pyeongtaek and are accused of shouting slogans such as "Let's smash the U.S. 7th Air Force for obstructing the Honam semiconductor" while filming their actions.
At the time, there were eight people at the scene—four men and four women—and of them, six entered the base while two were stopped at the entrance, it was found. U.S. forces arrested them in the act and handed them over to Korean police.
Police requested arrest warrants only for four people deemed to have played leading roles or to face heavier charges, and released the other four.
They are said to be exercising their right to remain silent in police questioning.
The Protection of Military Bases and Installations Act provides for up to one year in prison or a fine of up to 10 million won for unauthorized entry into a controlled military facilities zone. Filming, depicting, or recording a military facility is punishable by up to three years in prison or a fine of up to 30 million won.
Meanwhile, the Korea University Advancement Association said on social media (SNS) on the day of the incident that "the United States is obstructing the construction of the Honam semiconductor industrial complex," and it is continuing a press conference and protests in front of Pyeongtaek Police Station urging the release of those for whom arrest warrants were sought.