The footage spreads among students, fueling rumors
Expert: "Revealing faces without consent is a clear crime"
An incident occurred in Hongseong, Chungnam, where a female high school student died after being unable to endure psychological pressure following the spread of CCTV footage showing her taking items from an unmanned store.
According to a report by Korea NGO News on the 29th, a second-year high school student in Hongseong County, identified as Ms. A (18), was found dead at her home on September 23. The bereaved family claimed, "The illegal footage spread in a way that effectively revealed her identity, making her a target of ridicule."
An incident occurred in Hongseong, Chungnam, where a female high school student died after being unable to endure psychological pressure following the spread of CCTV footage showing her taking items from an unmanned store. (The photo is for illustrative purposes and unrelated to the article content.)
5,000-Won Theft Footage, From Private Sharing to Widespread Distribution in the Community
It was reported that before her death, Ms. A had taken items several times from an unmanned ice cream shop near her school without paying. The total amount was said to be about 5,000 won.
However, the situation escalated rapidly when the shop owner passed CCTV capture images of the incident to an acquaintance who ran a study room. The study room operator showed the photos to students, asking them to identify the person. The unblurred face quickly spread among the students.
Due to the small community, the footage soon reached Ms. A’s brother and other acquaintances. On September 22, her brother informed their parents, and her mother arranged to meet the shop owner the next day to discuss compensation. However, investigations revealed that Ms. A took her own life after a night of distress.
Before her death, Ms. A expressed extreme anxiety in messages to her friends. She confided, "They say I should pay back several times the amount," and "Everyone is whispering behind my back. I can't endure the rumors."
The family's attorney also stated, "She repeatedly told her friends, 'I can't show my face in Hongseong' and 'I can't go to school,'" and added that there are conversations in which her friends desperately tried to dissuade her after she hinted at her intentions.
Shop Owner and Study Room Operator Reported to Police... Releasing Personal Information Is Clearly Illegal
The bereaved family reported the unmanned shop owner to the Hongseong Police Station on October 14 for violating the Personal Information Protection Act and the Information and Communications Network Act. The study room operator was also reported for violating the Information and Communications Network Act.
Distributing images that can identify someone’s face or identity without their consent is a crime. In fact, in 2022, a shop owner in Incheon was fined for defamation after posting a photo of a child suspected of theft at an unmanned store.
Ms. A’s father said, "Looking at my daughter's final messages, I can't even imagine the fear she must have felt," and appealed, "Her entire life collapsed due to the illegal distribution."
If you or someone you know is struggling with depression or other difficult issues, you can receive 24-hour counseling from experts by calling the suicide prevention hotline at 109.
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