A trial is set to begin on Wednesday for a 30-year-old graduate student and drone manufacturer accused of flying civilian drones into North Korea’s Kaesong area, evading military surveillance.
The Seoul Central District Court’s Criminal Division 38-3, presided over by Judge Choi Young-gak, will hold the initial hearing for the defendants: Mr. Oh, a graduate student and director of a drone manufacturing company; Mr. Jang, the company’s Chief Executive Officer (CEO); and Mr. Kim, a North Korea specialist. They face charges of general treason.
This court, established in February, specializes in cases involving insurrection and treason. Under special laws governing criminal procedures for treason, foreign exchange crimes, and rebellion, cases with significant national impact can be tried here.
The defendants allegedly flew civilian drones across the Military Demarcation Line (MDL) into North Korea on four occasions between September 27 last year and January 4 this year, capturing footage while circumventing military air defense systems.
Investigators found that the group initiated project discussions around December 28, 2022, following the Defense Ministry’s announcement of its 2023-2027 Medium-Term Defense Plan. This plan allocates 560 billion KRW (about 380 million USD) over five years to bolster anti-North Korea drone capabilities, including the rapid establishment of drone units.
At the time, Oh and Jang were contract employees in the presidential spokesperson’s office under the Yoon Suk Yeol administration. Kim managed a North Korea-related website for an association under the Unification Ministry.
Prosecutors allege the group aimed to demonstrate the market potential of long-range drones capable of evading both South and North Korean air defenses, planning flights into North Korean airspace.
The suspects constructed Styrofoam drones, conducted test flights in Yeoju, Gyeonggi Province last June, and scouted launch sites near the demilitarized zone (DMZ) and MDL in Ganghwa County, Incheon, meticulously planning their operation.
Drones launched by the group on September 28 last year and January 4 this year crashed in North Korea. After recovering and analyzing the wreckage and SD cards, Pyongyang issued a critical statement on January 10, based on the recovered flight data and video footage.
In March, prosecutors took over the case from police and conducted additional investigations based on evidence gathered by a joint military-police task force.
Following the supplementary probe, prosecutors concluded there was insufficient evidence to prove the drones had captured images of South Korean military installations, resulting in no charges under the Military Base Protection Act.