School Hidden Camera Crimes Steadily Increase Over the Past 4 Years
Current Principals, Teachers, and Teenagers Also Caught
"Who Would Entrust Children Feeling Unsafe?" Citizens Condemn
An active principal was arrested by the police for installing an illegal camera in the girls' restroom of the elementary school where they work. / Photo by Yonhap News
[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Juhyung] A shocking incident has come to light where a principal of an elementary school in Anyang, Gyeonggi Province installed a small illegal camera in the staff restroom. Since schools, where young students are taught, should provide the safest environment, concerns have been raised that even schools cannot be free from hidden camera crimes. The government is implementing various policies to eradicate illegal filming crimes, but experts advise that measures such as restricting the sale of modified cameras should also be considered.
◆Current principal installs small camera in elementary school women's restroom
On the 29th of last month, the Anyang Dongan Police Station urgently arrested a current teacher, Mr. A (57), on suspicion of violating the Special Act on the Punishment of Sexual Crimes. Mr. A is accused of secretly installing a small camera, measuring 2 to 4 cm, inside the female staff restroom at the elementary school where he works.
The camera was discovered on the 27th of last month by a staff member. At that time, the staff member reported the matter to the school, but Mr. A, despite being a school administrator, responded passively. The police, suspicious of this, confirmed his criminal act during an interview with Mr. A.
After the police confiscated and investigated the illegal camera, no footage showing the bodies of teachers or staff was found. However, numerous videos presumed to have been illegally filmed in other areas of the school were found on Mr. A’s mobile phone.
◆Increasing hidden camera crimes in schools every year
This is not the first time that hidden camera crimes have been attempted within schools. In March last year, a controversy arose when it was revealed that a current teacher at a high school in Gimhae, Gyeongnam Province, had repeatedly entered the female restroom over about three months to install cameras and attempt illegal filming.
It is known that this teacher had also secretly placed a camera in the female restroom of a high school gymnasium three years earlier, in September 2017. He was recently sentenced to three years in prison in the second trial.
According to data from the National Police Agency, school hidden camera crimes have steadily increased over the past four years. / Photo by Yonhap News
Even teenagers are engaging in illegal filming. In April, a student at a high school in Hwaseong, Gyeonggi Province was caught by the police for filming a peer with a hidden camera.
Since schools are places where minors receive education, criticism has arisen that schools, which should be the safest from sexual crimes, have become hotbeds for hidden cameras.
Hidden camera crimes in schools have been steadily increasing every year. According to data titled "Recent 4-year trend of camera-related filming crimes in schools," submitted by the National Police Agency to Park Chandae, a member of the Democratic Party, the number of illegal filming crimes in schools has continuously risen over the past four years: 77 cases → 86 cases → 115 cases → 173 cases.
◆Expert: Psychological factors such as paraphilia and self-display fuel illegal filming crimes
Given this situation, citizens have expressed outrage. There are calls questioning how children can be safely entrusted to schools under these circumstances.
The government is working with local governments and related ministries to implement measures to eradicate illegal filming. / Photo by Yonhap News
B, a 30-something office worker with children, said, "My child will enter elementary school someday, and every time I hear news like this, my heart breaks. I don’t understand what has been done to allow a situation where we have to worry about hidden cameras even in school restrooms."
Another office worker, C (31), stated, "Because hidden camera crimes are often punished lightly, even children get involved. We need to strictly punish hidden camera offenders to eradicate this problem."
Since 2018, the government has been implementing various policies to eradicate illegal filming. Together with local governments, a system for regular inspections of public restrooms has been introduced, and detection devices are being distributed by education offices to enable self-inspections in elementary, middle, and high schools.
Additionally, the government plans to establish and operate a tracking information system to manage sales records of modified cameras commonly used for illegal filming, such as water bottle-shaped cameras and button cameras.
Experts suggest considering various measures, including restricting the sale of products that can be misused as hidden cameras. Professor Oh Yoonseong of the Department of Police Administration at Soonchunhyang University said, "Illegal filming crimes arise from various factors such as paraphilia and self-display, and eradication seems difficult. Although there are some limitations, measures such as restricting the sale of ultra-small hidden cameras and other modified camera products can be considered."
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