South Korean national detained in China over espionage allegation

A South Korean national has been detained in China on suspicion of espionage, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Lin Jian said Tuesday, without providing details.

It was the first time a South Korean national has been taken into custody in China for alleged spying since the country’s revised anti-espionage law took effect in July 2023, according to South Korea’s Yonhap News Agency.

Lin said at a press conference that China is a country under the rule of law. “We investigate and deal with criminal activities in accordance with the law and guarantee the legitimate rights of the people,” he said.

The man in his 50s, a resident in Hefei of China’s Anhui Province, is believed to have been detained late last year on charges of violating the revised law, which broadened the scope of what constitutes spying activities, Yonhap said.

According to South Korean media reports, the detained citizen was a former employee of Samsung Electronics Co. He moved to China in 2016 and worked for Chinese semiconductor companies.

Chinese authorities reportedly suspect he leaked semiconductor-related information to South Korea.