Chinese tourist uploads photos of Busan police station interior online, sparking security concerns
Published: 19 Jan. 2026, 16:06
![A photo uploaded to Douyin, a Chinese short-video app, shows the interior of the Busan Haeundae Police Station. The user uploaded the photo with the caption ″I work.″ [SCREEN CAPTURE]](https://koreajoongangdaily.joins.com/data/photo/2026/01/19/a464351d-54b4-4c60-b834-493dd29a313d.jpg)
A photo uploaded to Douyin, a Chinese short-video app, shows the interior of the Busan Haeundae Police Station. The user uploaded the photo with the caption ″I work.″ [SCREEN CAPTURE]
A Chinese social media user uploaded photos of the interior of a police station in the Korean port city of Busan, drawing concern among Korean online communities over possible security breaches.
A police official from the precinct said on Sunday the images were taken by a Chinese tourist during a visit to the station and denied rumors that the precinct hires Chinese nationals.
The photos, which appeared on Douyin, the Chinese version of TikTok, show a desk — on which there is an office computer with its monitors turned on — and the surrounding workspace.
The user posted the images with the caption “I work.”
The post circulated widely on Korean social media. Users questioned how a foreign national could have accessed police facilities and whether the images posed a security risk.
Police said the photos were taken in November last year when the tourist visited the police station to retrieve a lost wallet.
According to police, the tourist's mobile phone had been out of battery, so officers allowed the individual to use a charger at one of their desks. Investigators believe the photos were taken without permission during that time.
Police said the wording “I work” alone does not amount to impersonation of a Korean police officer, making it difficult to pursue charges on impersonation grounds. A police official said authorities are reviewing whether to file a formal investigative request.
This article was originally written in Korean and translated by a bilingual reporter with the help of generative AI tools. It was then edited by a native English-speaking editor. All AI-assisted translations are reviewed and refined by our newsroom.
BY JANG GU-SEUL [[email protected]]
with the Korea JoongAng Daily
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