By Na Jeong-ju
Seoul Metropolitan Government said Wednesday it will install more than 1,700 surveillance cameras on subway trains running on Lines 2 and 7 by June to fight crime.
The announcement triggered privacy concerns from human rights groups, but the city said the measure was to protect citizens from criminals and disorderly passengers.
According to the city’s traffic bureau, two surveillance cameras will be set up in each subway car. A total of 712 cameras will be installed on 356 trains, or 43 percent of trains running on Line 2, and 992 cameras on all 496 trains running on Line 7.
Conductors and engineers will be able to see real-time images from the cameras. The images will also be transmitted to the subway control center so that it can stop the car in an emergency. All recordings will be automatically deleted after 30 days.
“We hope this measure will help prevent various types of crime occurring on subway trains. Especially, we can respond to theft and sexual harassment more quickly and more effectively,” said Lee Byung-han, an official from the traffic bureau. “We can also counter disorderly passengers as well.”
The city government will decide later this year on whether to set up cameras on all subway trains running in the capital based on public opinion.
“We’ve received a number of complaints from passengers that crimes occurring on trains are not properly dealt with because surveillance cameras are installed only at subway stations and platforms,” the official said.
Human rights groups expressed concern that the measure was a violation of privacy.
“The surveillance cameras could be effective in countering crimes, but could be used for monitoring certain passengers, impinging on their rights,” said Choi Tae-son, an activist in Seoul.