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Four major South Korean airports soon will begin using full-body scan machines, according to the Ministry of Land, Transport and Maritime Affairs.

The machines will be tested for 30 days beginning Sept. 1, and be fully operational on Oct. 1, a ministry spokesman said. The machines will be used to screen passengers who are flagged as security risks, though those passengers can opt to be checked by hand, he said.

Three machines will be located at Incheon International Airport, the main gateway into South Korea for international flights and U.S. troops. Gimhae, Gimpo and Jeju airports each will have a machine, the spokesman said.

The decision to use the scan machines was prompted by the Dec. 25, 2009, attempted bombing of a Northwest Airlines flight scheduled to land in Detroit and by the need for greater security ahead of the G-20 Summit, to be held in Seoul in November, the spokesman said.

From staff reports

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