Gangnam Plastic Surgery Leak Video Was Taken with a 'Chinese Camera'

Products Prohibited from Overseas Sales Due to Security Concerns

An internal Internet Protocol (IP) camera at a plastic surgery clinic in Gangnam, Seoul, where videos were leaked online, has been identified as a security-vulnerable 'Chinese-made' product.

According to reports from KBS on the 7th, the IP camera used at the plastic surgery clinic, from which footage inside the consultation room was leaked online, was found to be a product of Chinese company H. Due to security concerns, this product has already been banned from import and sale overseas.

Unlike closed-circuit television (CCTV) systems that block external access, IP cameras can send and receive data and be remotely controlled via the internet. As long as there is an internet connection, footage can be viewed regardless of physical distance. However, they have the disadvantage of being relatively vulnerable to security threats.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

Among these, IP cameras from Chinese companies are known to be even more vulnerable to security issues. The H company's product, from which the footage was leaked this time, is banned from import and sale in countries such as the United States and Australia.

In particular, Chinese products are known to have simple default passwords, making it easy for hackers to gain access. In fact, methods to hack H company’s products can be easily found on websites and YouTube.

The police are investigating whether the plastic surgery clinic changed the default password of the IP cameras and whether security program updates were applied.

The video, which was circulated mainly on pornographic sites in China on the 6th, is reported to have been recorded by IP cameras inside the consultation room, changing room, and electrocardiogram examination room of the Gangnam plastic surgery clinic over five days starting from the 24th of last month. The police are investigating the circumstances of the video leak with the possibility of hacking in mind, and are also looking into why cameras were installed inside the changing room rather than the consultation room.

So far, it is understood that about 10 victims have been identified, including famous celebrities.

Meanwhile, the plastic surgery clinic reportedly promoted that surgeries were performed directly by specialists rather than substitute doctors, highlighting that CCTV was installed inside the operating room. However, due to this video leak, the Korean Medical Association has expressed concern over the reality of hospital surgery video leaks and has argued that the mandatory installation of CCTV in operating rooms, scheduled to be enforced in September, should be reconsidered.