Agency Requests "Please Refrain from Speculative Reporting"
Repeated Illegal Filming Crimes Targeting Celebrities
Musical actress Kim Hwan-hee (33) discovered an illegal filming camera in the waiting room of a performance venue and reported it to the police, a fact that was revealed later.
According to the police on the 13th, Kim reported to the Gangnam Police Station in Seoul on the 9th that she found a camera inside the makeup room sofa on the 6th floor of the Kwanglim Art Center while waiting for the musical 'Next to Normal' performance and requested an investigation.
The police are investigating related parties, and Kim is concerned about secondary damage.
Kim's agency, Blue Stage, told Financial News, "The actress is feeling very anxious about the situation at the time," and asked to refrain from reckless speculative reporting.
This is not the first case of illegal filming crimes targeting celebrities in the performance and broadcasting industry.
In 2019, a staff member who installed a camera disguised as a portable power bank in the accommodations of actress Shin Se-kyung and Apink member Yoon Bo-mi during a foreign shoot for the cable TV variety show 'Borderless Pocha' was given a suspended sentence.
The illegal filming equipment installed by Kim (30) was discovered by Shin Se-kyung within an hour, so the damage was not significant.
The Seoul Southern District Court said to Kim, an employee of an outsourced broadcasting equipment company at the time, "You committed the crime by abusing your position as a member of the broadcasting filming team, so your responsibility is heavy and the nature of the crime is bad," but also considered "that it was a first offense and the camera was immediately recovered, preventing further damage," sentencing him to 1 year and 6 months in prison with a 3-year probation.
At that time, former child actress and YouTuber Kang Eun-bi mentioned the illegal filming incident by an outsourced staff member of a cable variety show during a live broadcast.
She said, "I have also seen staff members filming secretly," adding, "I went to observe a movie shoot of an actress from the same agency, and the audio director installed a hidden camera along with the audio equipment. Unfortunately, that scene was when the actress was showering."
In February 2021, comedian Park (30) was tried for installing illegal filming equipment in the women's restroom of the KBS Seoul Yeouido building and was sentenced to 2 years in prison in the appellate court.
According to the prosecution's investigation, Park was found to have committed dozens of similar crimes besides this incident and was also charged with possessing multiple illegal filming materials transferred to storage devices.
The court stated, "Although the victim reached a settlement, considering the necessity of punishment for such crimes, the mental shock to the victims, and the fact that many victims are still pleading for severe punishment, it is difficult to reduce the original sentence."
Meanwhile, Kim Hwan-hee is scheduled to perform as Natalie, a daughter striving for perfection, in the musical 'Next to Normal' until May 19.
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