Accreditation Card of British Journalist Wrongfully Issued to U.S. Citizen

A US citizen named `Smith Michael Pall`(33-year-old) has received a press accreditation card of the World Cup finals of a U.K. reporter and departed South Korea, which set off alarm bells to the security of the World Cup finals

With the issued card, any body can access the World Cup stadiums of South Korea and Japan freely, which may punch a hole in the games security if that card ultimately wind up to terrorists.

According to the National Policy Agency (NPA), bogus Smith has received the press acrediation card of Mr. Smith Pall Michael of the Sunday Mirror of the United Kingdom on May 16 at the main registration center in the International Media Center for the World Cup finals, located in Samsung-Dong, Kangman-Gu, Seoul.

The police became to aware of the incident as reporter Smith went to the main registration center on May 20 to pick up the press card, only to find out that the press card had already issued on his name.

The concerned press card has a registration number of `120019571`, and a volunteer only known for his family name Choi (23-year-old) said, `As I checked the name on the passport and others of bogus Smith, there was nothing wrong to doubt his identity, so I issued the press card after taking picture of him.`

Since reporter Smith stated that he once lost his passport in 1999, the police has checked the records of departures and arrivals of foreigners who have similar names with reporter Smith and found out a suspect named Pall entered the country on May 15 through Incheon International Airport and lodged in a nearby hotel of the International Media Center for the World Cup finals.

When the police checked the surveillance camera installed at the hotel, Pall has confirmed to have the press card hanged on his neck at the time when he was checking out from the hotel to depart to Japan on May 20.

Additionally, it is confirmed his sign in the lodgers` list is the same made in the receipt of the press card and Pall had departed to the United States via Japan on May 24.

It is possible according to the police that Mr. Pall may have relayed the press to some one in Korea or Japan after getting illegally the press card by a request of a third party.

A related person of the police said, `Since the name of Pall is similar to that of reporter Smith, the passport of Pall may be a fake one,` and added, `If the passport can be faked, faking a picture of the press card may be an easy job.`

Accordingly, the NPA has ordered the national police to strengthen the search and surveillance on foreigners who visit stadiums during the World Cup finals in preparation for the possibility of terrorism on the stadiums using the concerned press card, in addition to a stricter check on the press cardholders and the games related officials.

Hyun-Doo Lee ruchi@donga.com