"Too Anxious to Even Use the Bathroom" Another Hidden Camera in Women's Restroom... Women Express Outrage

39,044 Cases of Illegal Filming Crimes Over 7 Years
8 out of 10 Women Say "Illegal Filming Makes Them Anxious"
Experts Call for "Stronger Punishments"

Illegal filming prohibition notice installed inside a subway station in Seoul. Photo by Heo Midam damdam@asiae.co.kr

[Asia Economy Reporter Heo Midam] "I'm so anxious that I can't even use public restrooms.", "Checking my surroundings in the restroom has become a habit now."

As so-called 'molka (hidden camera) crimes' secretly filming body parts are rampant, a controversy has arisen recently after an illegal filming device was found in the women's restroom of the KBS Yeouido headquarters research building. The suspect is known to be a comedian who passed KBS's public recruitment.

As incidents of illegal filming in restrooms and changing rooms have been caught one after another recently, more women are expressing anxiety. In particular, some women have even carried awls or glue guns (silicone adhesive) to escape the danger of crime. Experts have suggested the need to strengthen punishments.

According to the police on the 2nd, comedian A, who voluntarily appeared at the Yeongdeungpo Police Station in Seoul in the early morning of the 1st, was booked and investigated on charges of violating the Special Act on the Punishment of Sexual Crimes.

Earlier, around 2 p.m. on the 29th of last month, the police responded to a report from an employee that there was a suspicious object suspected to be an illegal filming camera in the women's restroom of KBS Research Building 5.

There were reports that the suspect was a KBS employee, but this turned out to be groundless. KBS stated in an official position, "After urgently confirming with the police whether the suspect was an employee, we received a response that the suspect is not an employee."

Illegal filming crimes secretly capturing others' bodies are occurring repeatedly. According to data received by Rep. Nam In-soon (Democratic Party) of the National Assembly's Health and Welfare Committee from the National Police Agency, 39,044 illegal filming crimes occurred over seven years from 2012 to 2018.

The problem is that as filming equipment advances, the methods are also becoming more sophisticated. Illegal filming tools mainly include ultra-small cameras, disguised cameras, video recording devices, or mobile phones.

Especially in the case of ultra-small cameras, their small size makes it difficult to detect when hidden in women's changing rooms or restrooms.

A women's restroom inside a busy building in Busan. A hole in the restroom wall is sealed with silicone adhesive. Photo by Heo Midam damdam@asiae.co.kr

As a result, women are expressing anxiety about illegal filming.

Office worker Kim (28) said, "I'm so anxious that I rarely go to public restrooms. My friends are the same."

She continued, "I read articles saying that even if district offices conduct intensive crackdowns, cameras are not found, so shouldn't there be no perpetrators caught for illegal filming? But every day, articles about perpetrators caught for illegal filming flood out," expressing frustration.

She said, "When I go to public restrooms, I tap the trash can with my foot and carefully check screws to see if illegal cameras are installed," emphasizing, "I'm angry at this reality where women have to live in fear. We need to increase the severity of punishments for perpetrators and establish more related measures to eradicate the crime."

Like Kim, 8 out of 10 women express anxiety due to illegal filming. According to a survey conducted by Seoul City and the Namu Women's Human Rights Counseling Center in June last year targeting 1,500 adults aged 19 to 59 living in Seoul, 80% of women answered that they feel anxious in daily life due to illegal filming.

They feel fear due to the anxiety that they could be filmed without knowing and the uncontrollable spread of harm once footage is distributed.

Another office worker Kim (27) said, "I've seen signs in restrooms with messages like 'Let's prevent illegal filming.' Every time I see such signs, I feel sad that society seems to take illegal filming crimes lightly."

She added, "A friend of mine carries a small awl to poke screws in restrooms. It's now natural for women to feel anxious about using restrooms, and I have also developed a habit of being cautious and closely inspecting holes even when I enter a restroom stall."

Compared to the fear women feel about illegal filming, the level of punishment remains low. According to the status of first trial judgments for violations of the Special Act on the Punishment of Sexual Crimes (filming using cameras, etc.) received by Democratic Party Rep. Nam In-soon from the Supreme Court last year, 9,148 people were tried for related charges from 2012 to 2018.

Among them, 4,788 (52.3%) received fines (property penalties), followed by 2,749 (30.1%) probation, 862 (9.4%) imprisonment (prison or jail), and 417 (4.6%) suspended sentences. Only about one in ten defendants received imprisonment.

An expert said this is related to the low level of punishment. Seo Seung-hee, head of the Korea Cyber Sexual Violence Response Center, analyzed, "Men who used to only watch pornography now have the desire to create the pornography they want. Beyond sexual objectification of women, they want to produce reality videos they filmed themselves."

She added, "The low level of punishment is one of the factors increasing these crimes. Illegal filming crimes have a high recidivism rate. Recidivism indicates that punishments were weak. It is important to strengthen punishments and establish sentencing guidelines to properly apply existing laws."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.