17 caught for secretly filming women on beaches

By Kim Rahn

The Ministry of Gender Equality and Family in cooperation with the police caught 17 people for filming women on beaches and at subway stations during a two-month intensive crackdown. / Gettyimagesbank

Seventeen people were caught secretly photographing or filming women at holiday destinations or in Seoul's metro system during the two-month vacation season, the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family said, Monday.

Together with police, the ministry conducted an intensive crackdown on spycams and other illegal filming activities at three beaches ― Haeundae in Busan, Daecheon in South Chungcheong Province and Gyeongpodae in Gangwon Province ― and at subway stations in Seoul from July to August.

On the beaches, 12 were caught taking photos or filming women in swimsuits on the beaches or near bathhouses. They told police that they intended to look at the photos and watch the video clips alone at home.

Five of them were booked as the photos were too explicit, while the remaining seven were given verbal warnings.

The five people caught at subway stations allegedly took photos or filmed women, who were wearing shorts or short skirts, while they were walking up stairs or sitting on the opposite seat on the subway. The police booked and are investigating them.

“A couple of those caught were foreign nationals. We will cooperate with relevant organizations to let foreigners here know illegal filming can constitute a sex offence and the violators could be subject to jail sentences,” the ministry said in a statement.

People can be punished with up to five years in jail or 30 million won in fines for secretly photographing or filming the bodies of others.