Security Forces detain 8 people attempting to breach US air base in South Korea

OSAN AIR BASE, South Korea — Eight people were detained Tuesday after attempting to unlawfully enter the home of the U.S. 7th Air Force through its main gate, according to the 51st Fighter Wing and South Korean police.

Security Forces personnel responded immediately, detained the group and turned them over to the Korean National Police, wing spokesman Master Sgt. Eric Flores said by email that afternoon. The incident occurred between 10 and 11 a.m.

Police believe the eight may be affiliated with groups that oppose the U.S. military presence in South Korea, National Police spokeswoman Julie Song said by phone Tuesday.

She declined to identify the individuals or name the organizations they are believed to be associated with.

The main gate was closed at Osan Air Base, South Korea, Aug. 4, 2026, when law enforcement said eight people tried to force their way onto the installation. (Alejandro Carrasquel/Stars and Stripes)

Neither the wing nor South Korean police have released details about how the group attempted to enter the installation, whether anyone was injured or whether the incident affected base operations.

The eight remain in police custody while military and local authorities investigate, Flores said.

“Unauthorized attempts to access a U.S. military installation are taken extremely seriously,” he said. “The safety and security of our personnel, facilities, and mission remain our highest priorities.”

The wing is cooperating with South Korean police, and the incident will be handled under applicable U.S. and South Korean laws and procedures, Flores said.

Osan Air Base, about 40 miles south of Seoul, is one of the main U.S. military installations in South Korea. About 28,500 U.S. troops are stationed in the country under a mutual defense alliance.