['Secret' Camera Heaven] Stop Those Guys...Another Battle at the Summer Resort

Local Governments and Regional Police Issue 'Hidden Camera Warning'
Deployment of Hidden Camera Detectors to Prevent Illegal Filming Activities

A local government is hanging up banners to prevent illegal filming crimes during the summer vacation.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporters Byungdon Yoo, Gyumin Oh] In August last year, a man in his 40s was caught by the police for secretly filming an unknown woman around a beach area in Busan. The man was caught after repeatedly filming a woman secretly at Gwangalli Beach, with a citizen reporting the incident upon witnessing it. At the time of arrest, he claimed he was taking pictures of a dog, but upon checking his phone, the police found numerous illegally filmed photos.

In the same month, a current public official in his 50s from the Incheon area was also caught secretly filming women's bodies at Jungmun Saekdal Beach in Seogwipo City, Jeju. At vacation spots, due to frequent foot traffic, hot weather leading to women wearing light clothing, and outdoor activities continuing late into the night, hidden camera crimes tend to be rampant.

With the vacation season underway, a "Hidden Camera Warning" has been issued at major vacation spots. Local governments and police at key tourist destinations have already launched a war against hidden cameras. Gangneung City in Gangwon Province installed a 24-hour hidden camera detection system in the women's restroom on the central passage of Gyeongpo Beach, which opened on the 8th. The detection system uses a continuous thermal imaging method and can detect ultra-small cameras that are difficult to identify with the naked eye. It operates 24/7, unmanned, and can be monitored remotely.

Jung-gu, Incheon, also installed a continuous hidden camera detection system in beach restrooms and plans to strengthen surveillance against illegal filming. Yeongcheon City in Gyeongsangbuk-do activated a special inspection team using optical equipment to identify camera lenses and radio wave detection equipment to catch wireless cameras. They sequentially inspected places with a high possibility of illegal filming crimes, such as women's restrooms and shower rooms at Unjusan Horse Riding Natural Recreation Forest, Starlight Theme Village, and Bohyeonsan Dam Zip Wire.

Local police are also contributing to the prevention of illegal filming. The Chungbuk Provincial Police Agency is conducting a month-long inspection of illegal camera installations, focusing on public restrooms in vulnerable places such as tourist sites and campgrounds. They secured 63 million won in provincial funds, purchased detection equipment, and completed training police officers on how to operate the devices. The Busan Police Agency is conducting intensive prevention activities against sexual crimes at beaches until August 31, in preparation for the summer season.

Together with local governments, they operate joint inspection patrol teams (15 stations) to check for illegal camera installations in public restrooms, changing rooms, shower rooms, and multi-use facilities around beaches. The Seocho Police Station in Seoul also conducted a joint safety inspection with Seocho District Office and Seocho Fire Station ahead of the summer vacation season, inspecting restrooms for illegal filming to prevent sexual crimes at locations such as Banpo-dong Seoul Express Bus Terminal, department stores, and underground shopping malls in Seocho-gu.