Smartphone + Detection Film... Illegal Hidden Cameras Beware

Jungbu Police Station 'SafePolly Hotel' Activities
Sex Crime Education for Hotel Staff and Inspection of Illegal Cameras in Rooms
Rental of Illegal Camera Detectors and More

On the 19th, the Jungbu Police Station in Seoul conducted sexual crime education and illegal camera inspections for hotel employees at the Novotel Ambassador Dongdaemun Hotel. Hotel staff also participated directly in the inspection using illegal camera detectors. /Photo by Seoul Jungbu Police Station

Novotel Ambassador Dongdaemun Hotel located in Jung-gu, Seoul. The police brought an illegal filming camera detector attached to a long rod to the hotel room's mirror, ventilation grille, and power outlet holes. If there was an illegal filming camera, the rod would light up with a "beep" sound. However, the illegal filming camera detector showed no response. The police and hotel staff felt relieved and moved on to the next room. No illegal filming cameras were found in this hotel.

The Jungbu Police Station in Seoul conducted sexual violence education and inspected hotel rooms for illegal filming cameras at this hotel on the 19th as part of the 'Safe Police Hotel' business agreement, which has been promoted since this month. On the 7th, the Safe Police Hotel activity was also carried out at the Nine Tree Premier Hotel Myeongdong 2. The police demonstrated the use of the illegal filming camera detector and informed hotel staff on how to use it.

They also provided five sheets of the illegal filming camera detection film called the 'X Card,' which looks like red cellophane, to the hotels. The X Card is a device that can capture the lens of an illegal filming camera when placed in front of a smartphone camera recording video. A hotel official said, "We will continue to check for the presence of illegal filming cameras in rooms using the X Cards provided by the Jungbu Police Station and the rented detectors."

On the 19th, the Jungbu Police Station in Seoul conducted sexual crime education and illegal camera inspections for hotel staff at the Novotel Ambassador Dongdaemun Hotel. O Dae-sung, Team 3 Chief of the Women and Youth Division at Jungbu Police Station, is providing education to the hotel staff. Photo by Seoul Jungbu Police Station

The police also informed hotel staff about signs that could indicate criminal activity. Oh Daesung, Team Leader of the Women and Youth Division 3 at Jungbu Police Station, said, "If there are sounds of fighting or broken items in the room, dating violence should be suspected," adding, "The important thing is that staff provide detailed information such as specific time and place, the situation at the time, and personal details of the reporter, victim, and perpetrator, and preserve the scene as it is. Since drugs can be flushed down the toilet, even the toilet water should not be flushed."

Kim Siho, Team Leader of the Management Support Team at Nine Tree Hotel, who attended the training, said, "It was an education filled with vivid cases and specific situations," and added, "I think it will be a great help to hotel staff."

In lodging facilities, domestic violence, statutory rape of minors, dating violence, and illegal filming using cameras occur frequently, and recently drug-related crimes have been on the rise. According to Jungbu Police Station, the number of sexual violence cases reported in the Euljiro 3-ga area of Jung-gu, Seoul, increased by 48% from 303 cases in the first half of last year (January to June) to 449 cases in the first half of this year. As part of the campaign to eradicate sexual crimes, Jungbu Police Station placed 500 leaflets explaining sexual crime punishment laws and 500 masks in the lobbies of each hotel.

Kim Mira, Head of the Women and Youth Division at Jungbu Police Station, said, "Since social distancing was lifted in April, sexual crimes in hotels have increased, but there have been difficulties in investigations," and added, "Through this activity, we hope to proceed smoothly with sexual crime investigations with the cooperation of hotels and ensure the safety of citizens."

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