Inchon airport to get body-search X-ray

An X-ray designed to search the bodies of passengers will be installed at Inchon International Airport, which is scheduled to open in March 2001.

The Korea Customs Service has decided to import the body-search equipment from the U.S. company AS&E to combat the increasing ingenuity of drug smugglers and terrorists.

The device has a low X-ray intensity compared to the current devices used to check luggage. It is able to penetrate clothes and reveal the body underneath. As such, it is able to detect any drugs or weapons taped to the body inside the clothes.

The announcement of installation of such a device has sounded an alarm to the drug and arms smugglers, who have smuggled in various contraband and weapons using body tapes.

The Korea Customs Service has decided to import one such device for a test-run and has submitted a budget request for the equipment, which costs $200,000.

However, some fear a backlash from the general public, which might feel it an invasion of privacy. When within the device, a person is rendered completely nude. Due to such an invasion of privacy, there are only six airports that such devices in cities plagued with drug smugglers or terrorists, such as the JFK in New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, Houston, Miami and Atlanta airports.

jinhup@donga.com