Chinese Embassy in Korea Denies Allegations of 'Secret Base' at Seoul Chinese Restaurant

Chinese Embassy Reaffirms "No Secret Police Station" in Statement
Seoul Chinese Restaurant Accused of Secret Police to Close Next Month

[Asia Economy Reporter Jang Hee-jun] Following revelations that China is operating 'secret police stations' around the world, and suspicions that a Chinese restaurant in Seoul serves as a base within South Korea, the Chinese Embassy in Korea has denied the allegations as "completely unfounded."

On the 23rd, the Chinese Embassy in Korea issued a statement under the spokesperson's name to the media, expressing regret over reports by some Korean media outlets citing intelligence sources that China had established overseas police stations in Seoul and that a restaurant in Gangnam was suspected to be a base.

Hungary's Chinese Overseas Secret Police Office
[Photo by Yonhap News]

At the same time, the embassy reaffirmed its previous position, stating, "The so-called 'overseas police stations' do not exist at all." Mao Ning, spokesperson for the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, also denied the existence of secret police stations during a regular briefing the day before.

The embassy said, "China consistently adheres to the principle of non-interference in internal affairs, strictly complies with international law, and respects the judicial sovereignty of all countries," adding, "Over the past several years, Chinese public security and prosecution authorities have established close communication channels with Korean police and prosecution authorities, maintaining a high level of cooperation between the two sides."

The Chinese version of the statement also separately mentioned, "The Chinese Embassy in Korea maintains close communication with relevant Korean government departments."

Earlier, the international human rights organization Safeguard Defenders revealed in September that China operates more than 102 secret police stations called 'Overseas 110 Service Stations' in 53 countries worldwide, mainly in Europe. These organizations are responsible for suppressing dissidents who have fled China, and it is known that one such station has been established in South Korea.

Amid these allegations, suspicions arose that the location in question is a Chinese restaurant in the Gangnam area of Seoul, prompting China to refute the claims. However, while China has denied the existence of secret police stations in other countries as well, secret organizations have been uncovered in Canada with three locations and in Japan with two.

An official from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs reaffirmed the existing stance regarding the 'secret base at a Seoul Chinese restaurant' allegations, stating, "We are closely monitoring related developments and communicating as necessary with relevant domestic agencies," and added, "Activities of foreign agencies within the country must be conducted in compliance with relevant domestic and international norms."

[Image source=Yonhap News]

Criticism of Government's Passive Response... "If Secret Organizations Are Confirmed, Strong Diplomatic Protest Is Needed"

Since the revelations, the South Korean government has begun fact-finding efforts. The National Intelligence Service is acting as the control tower, with joint investigations being conducted by the military's Defense Security Command, police, and other agencies, and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has also been mobilized. It is known that counterintelligence authorities strongly suspect a Chinese restaurant located in the Gangnam area of Seoul, but no official confirmation has been made so far.

However, compared to other countries, there are criticisms that the government's response has been passive. Instead of making direct statements toward China, the government has maintained the position that "verifying the facts comes first."

In diplomatic circles, the reason for the government's lukewarm stance is analyzed as a concern over the possibility of diplomatic relations with China deteriorating again. There is also a view that the ongoing coordination of Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi's visit to Korea has influenced this position.

An expert familiar with diplomatic affairs pointed out, "It is inconsistent for the Yoon Seok-yeol administration, which has emphasized international norms, to show a lukewarm attitude on this issue." He added, "Although China denies the facts, many countries have already revealed the existence of such organizations," and emphasized, "If secret organizations are confirmed in Korea as well, strong protests should be made against this diplomatic affront that disregards the judicial system."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.