Average 83.1 Clicks Per Day... "Uncomfortably Exposed" vs "If It's to Catch the Culprit" [Founding Project - Distrust Society and CCTV②]

Smarter Security CCTV... Equipped with High-Definition and AI
Effective in Catching Criminals
Criticism of Excessive Human Rights Infringement
Experts: "CCTV Has Both Pros and Cons... Legal Action Needed if Privacy Is Violated"

Closed-circuit television (CCTV) is essential in daily life. It records our everyday activities in places like large supermarkets and elevators, helping to prevent crime. However, concerns about privacy violations and human rights infringements persist, and there are even crimes committed using CCTV, so controversies surrounding CCTV continue.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

Editor's NoteA society where trust is disappearing. As time passes, the phenomenon of people across all layers of society not trusting each other is intensifying. Although South Korea is a country that has achieved rapid economic growth at an unprecedented global pace, the economic prosperity, which is distinctly different from the past, has not played a role in washing away distrust among people. Therefore, many argue that more closed-circuit televisions (CCTV) should be installed to closely monitor every corner of society. Recently, the incident involving the death of Son Jeong-min, who was drinking with friends by the Han River, and occasional accidents occurring in places such as daycare centers and operating rooms have strengthened calls for expanded CCTV installation. However, there are also considerable voices that CCTV does not only play a positive role in resolving unjust incidents or preventing crimes. It is argued that CCTV could become a 'Big Brother' that indiscriminately invades privacy and monitors individuals in real time. On the occasion of its 33rd anniversary, this publication presents various voices from the field regarding CCTV in our society.

[Asia Economy Reporters Heo Midam, Kim Choyoung, Kim Soyoung] "CCTV is essential for crime prevention and catching criminals," "It's unsettling not knowing when and where my face might have been recorded."

Currently, South Korea is one of the leading countries in the world in terms of closed-circuit television (CCTV) coverage. Our every move is densely recorded not only on public transportation such as buses and subways but also in ordinary companies, large supermarkets, and elevators. According to the National Human Rights Commission, citizens living in the metropolitan area are exposed to CCTV an average of 83.1 times a day (ranging from a minimum of 59 to a maximum of about 110 times), and their images are captured every 9 seconds while moving. Ultimately, this means that we live most of our day under surveillance without even realizing it.

The reason for installing CCTV despite enduring daily surveillance is related to our safety. CCTV plays a significant role not only in preventing various crimes and accidents but also in apprehending offenders caught in the act. When violent crimes or other incidents occur, the first thing authorities do is secure nearby CCTV footage. This allows easy tracking of suspects' movements through CCTV analysis.

As a result, there are many cases where CCTV serves as a crucial clue to catch criminals. Last month, a man who stole women's underwear in the Guro District of Seoul was caught by the police through CCTV footage. The victim identified the suspect's appearance from the CCTV video, and when a man with a similar appearance appeared again at the scene, she reported it to the police.

Similarly, in the same month, a man who secretly entered the home of a female neighbor living alone and roamed around as if it were his own house was also caught by the police thanks to CCTV. The victim reportedly installed CCTV inside her home after noticing changes such as the bedroom window being open when she returned from going out.

In other words, the records left on CCTV made it easier to catch the culprit. This is also confirmed by related statistics. According to Daejeon City, from 2018 to 2020, 2,361 incidents and accidents were captured by the integrated control center's CCTV, of which 254 cases were apprehended on the spot by police officers who immediately responded.

Last month, a man caused a stir by unlawfully breaking into the home of a woman living alone. The man was caught red-handed thanks to a CCTV installed by the victim herself. Photo by SBS 'News8'.

Academic interpretations of CCTV's crime prevention effects vary, but the majority acknowledge its effectiveness. According to a 2014 report by researchers at Harvard University, crime rates decreased by a minimum of 7% and up to 51% depending on the region after CCTV installation.

Summarizing this situation, CCTV installed in every corner of urban areas acts as a kind of sentinel protecting public safety and minimizing blind spots in crime prevention.

Consequently, many citizens feel uneasy in places where CCTV is not installed. Especially following the case of the late Son Jeong-min (22), who went missing and was found dead at Banpo Hangang Park in Seoul on April 30, the importance of CCTV installation has grown even more.

There are about 1,320 CCTVs along the Han River, but most are installed mainly at park entrance underground passages or elevators. In particular, only 163 CCTVs were installed in about ten Han River parks.

In the case of Banpo Hangang Park, where Son went missing, only 22 CCTVs were installed inside. It was reported that there was only one CCTV filming the inner park areas such as walking trails.

As a result, even if crimes or safety accidents occur in the park center or riverside areas where citizens mainly stay, it is difficult to properly investigate them. The absence of CCTV is cited as one of the reasons why it was difficult to clarify the truth of Son's case.

In response, citizens posted petitions on the Blue House's public petition board requesting the installation of CCTV in Han River parks. Although concerns about privacy invasion by CCTV remain, the perception that crime prevention and creating a safe living environment should take priority seems to have spread.

CCTV. [Photo by Yonhap News]

However, as the number of CCTVs increases and technology advances, controversies over human rights and privacy violations have also intensified. Recently, CCTV boasts high-definition clarity that allows pedestrians' facial expressions to be seen, and some CCTVs are equipped with artificial intelligence technology that automatically detects human movement.

The problem is that if CCTV is hacked, there is a high risk of privacy invasion and confidential information leakage. In the past, there were fewer internet-connected CCTVs, so concerns about video leaks were low, but nowadays, many CCTVs are connected to the internet, raising significant concerns about hacking and information security.

In May 2019, a foreign instructor was fined 5 million won for hacking a CCTV installed in a woman's bedroom and secretly watching her sleeping. It was reported that the instructor found the victim's IP address on an overseas internet site and accessed the home CCTV footage through it.

In January, a controversy arose when some members of an online community posted and mocked photos of customers captured on CCTV. Photo by Naver Cafe 'National Cafe Owners Association' post capture.

On the other hand, there have been cases where CCTV footage was distributed without the consent of the parties involved. Earlier in January, members of the online community "National Cafe Owners Association," composed of cafe operators, were involved in controversy for posting photos of customers captured on CCTV without permission and gossiping about them.

At that time, one netizen posted a captured CCTV image of a female customer along with a comment saying, "The sandals on bare legs are impressive," seemingly evaluating the woman's appearance. As the controversy grew, the netizen apologized, saying, "I sincerely apologize for causing anger and discomfort to many people due to my careless and immature behavior."

There have also been ongoing cases of conflicts between neighbors due to CCTVs installed in apartment complexes. Privacy invasion issues have repeatedly occurred, such as the exposure of the neighboring door's password due to CCTVs installed to prevent crime and package theft.

Regarding this, the number of personal information dispute mediation applications was Δ275 cases in 2018, Δ352 cases in 2019, and Δ328 cases until October 2020, with CCTV-related cases also increasing continuously: Δ12 cases in 2018, Δ18 cases in 2019, and Δ21 cases until October 2020.

Experts pointed out that strong legal action should be taken if personal information is leaked or privacy is violated through CCTV.

Professor Oh Yoon-sung of Soonchunhyang University’s Department of Police Administration said, "Every system has its pros and cons. When CCTV was first introduced, there was much opposition due to human rights violations. However, recently, there have been many cases where integrated CCTV control centers and the police jointly caught criminals," adding, "If privacy invasion caused by CCTV becomes a problem, those who engage in such behavior should be separately punished."