Police opened an investigation after allegations surfaced that Chinese-made equipment was supplied for a police body camera project funded with about 19 billion won to strengthen security. Because the body camera footage is transmitted directly to the National Information Resources Service, concerns have been raised that if Chinese-made products were actually used, the recorded video and related information could be leaked outside.
According to the Gyeonggi Nambu Provincial Police Agency on the 9th, the counterterrorism and security investigation unit is currently investigating device procurement company A, which participated in the Korean National Police Agency body camera project, on suspicion of fraud under the Act on the Aggravated Punishment of Specific Economic Crimes and obstruction of the performance of official duties by deception. KT, which handled the network buildout, is being questioned as a reference witness.
A and KT formed a consortium last year and were selected as the operator to introduce police body cameras.
The project was pursued to replace body cameras that frontline officers had purchased with their own money with official police equipment. A total of 19.486 billion won is to be invested through 2029.
Through the project last year, police distributed about 14,000 body cameras to the field.
A body camera is a mobile camera attached to an officer's body to record scenes on site. The recorded footage is transmitted to the National Information Resources Service via a wireless relay.
At a bid briefing last year, police reportedly advised against using Chinese-made devices to prevent security problems such as hacking of commercial products or video tampering. Because the recorded footage is transmitted directly to the National Information Resources Service, they placed emphasis on security.
In response, the supplier reportedly explained it would produce the products at a factory in Taiwan using an original equipment manufacturing (OEM) method and deliver them.
However, the allegation surfaced when a company that was eliminated in the selection process recently tipped off police, saying that "the delivered body cameras are similar in functions and appearance to products from a Chinese company."
Police then launched an investigation, conducted searches and seizures of A and KT, and secured related materials. They are questioning A officials about how the products were supplied, while also summoning KT as reference witnesses to verify related details.
They have also asked a specialized institution to appraise whether the delivered body cameras are identical to the Chinese company's products.
A has reportedly denied the allegations in the police investigation, saying it delivered OEM products made in Taiwan.