South Korean Students Detained After Breaching Osan Air Base

South Korean police detained eight members of the Korean Progressive University Student Union (KPUSU) on Tuesday after they breached the K-55 Osan Air Base in Pyeongtaek. Six activists successfully entered the compound while chanting anti-U.S. slogans, including "Let’s smash U.S. 7th Air Force," while two others were stopped at the entrance.

Personnel from U.S. Forces Korea and the U.S. 7th Air Force apprehended the group before transferring them to the Korean National Police. The students, consisting of four men and four women, are being investigated under South Korean laws protecting military installations and have invoked their right to remain silent.

The KPUSU stated the protest was motivated by a reported white phosphorus leak at the base and claims that U.S. military interests are obstructing a planned semiconductor manufacturing cluster in Gwangju. The project involves a military airport site that the U.S. military considers critical to its interests. U.S. military officials responded by stating that unauthorized attempts to access installations are taken extremely seriously and will be handled under applicable U.S. and South Korean laws.