A Chinese man in his 20s has been sentenced to prison for illegal filming at a motel in Gwanak District, Seoul.
On the 20th, the Seoul Central District Court Criminal 12th Division (Judge Lee Seung-ho) sentenced a 27-year-old Chinese national, identified as Mr. A, to 2 years in prison for violating the Sexual Violence Punishment Act (illegal filming and distribution). In addition to the prison sentence, he was ordered to complete a 40-hour sexual violence treatment program.
The court stated, “The method of installing cameras in a motel where many people come and go is reprehensible, and the crime of possessing multiple videos targeting numerous victims is very severe.” However, they considered Mr. A’s lack of prior punishment in Korea as a mitigating circumstance in the sentencing.
Previously, the Gwanak Police Station in Seoul had arrested Mr. A on charges of violating the Special Act on the Punishment of Sexual Violence Crimes and handed him over to the prosecution in custody last September.
Mr. A is accused of installing hidden cameras in the ventilation ducts and computer cases of three motels and seven rooms in Sillim-dong and Bongcheon-dong, Gwanak District, Seoul from April to August.
The police investigation revealed that Mr. A had in his possession approximately 1.4 million videos and there were around 240 victims. Mr. A filmed the victims’ nudity and sexual activities on 120 occasions using hidden cameras.
Mr. A, who was staying illegally in Korea, reportedly stated that he installed the cameras “out of curiosity”.
This is not the first time hidden cameras have been found in motels.
Last month, the Gangnam Police Station in Seoul reported that a man in his 20s, identified as Mr. B, was arrested and sent to the prosecution on charges of illegally filming women in public places and motels.
Mr. B is accused of illegally filming women’s bodies in public places such as subway stations in Gangnam from last year to this year, or filming scenes of having sexual relations with women in motels.
Last month, Mr. B was reported by an acquaintance while trying to film illegally at a massage parlor in Gangnam.
The police found numerous illegal recordings on Mr. B’s mobile phone and it is known that the number of victims identified so far exceeds 100.
By. Hannah Koo
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