Sexual Curiosity Sparked by Neighbor's Sounds... Man in His 40s Gets Suspended Sentence for Installing Recording Device After Learning Door Code

Installed Miniature Camera to Learn Password
Placed Recorder Between Bed Mattress Seams

A man in his 40s who eavesdropped on the sounds of sexual activity coming from his neighbor's apartment, then broke in and installed an illegal recording device, was sentenced to a suspended prison term by the court.

On May 10, Lee Seungho, the chief judge of the First Criminal Division at the Wonju Branch of the Chuncheon District Court, announced that A, a man in his 40s who was indicted on charges of violating the Protection of Communications Secrets Act and trespassing, was sentenced to six months in prison and one year of disqualification from certain rights, with both sentences suspended for two years.

A man in his 40s who broke into a neighbor's house and installed an illegal recording device was sentenced to a suspended prison term by the court. Yonhap News

According to the investigation, in November of last year, A heard the sounds of sexual activity coming from neighbor B's apartment through the front door while walking down the hallway of his own apartment building in Wonju. Driven by sexual curiosity, he committed the crime.

On February 13 of this year, at around 5 p.m., he installed a miniature camera near B's apartment to learn the electronic door lock password, and then entered the apartment without permission. Four days later, on February 16 at around 9:30 p.m., he broke in again and installed a recording device between the seams of the bed mattress. However, his crime was discovered that day by the victim, who returned home earlier than usual, and A was immediately arrested and indicted in custody.

The court stated, "The defendant's crime is by no means minor, as he entered the victim's residence out of sexual curiosity and invaded their private space." The court also explained, "However, sentencing took into account the fact that the defendant admitted to the crime and reached a settlement with the victim, who did not wish to pursue punishment."

Last year, a man in his 60s was also given a suspended prison sentence after attempting, but failing, to film scenes of sexual activity by breaking into his former lover's home.

This man secretly installed a miniature camera in the massage chair in the master bedroom of his ex-lover's home, intending to record her having sex with another man, but was caught. Afterwards, when the victim refused to open the door, he attempted to enter again using a smart card key he had secretly copied and kept in the past.