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Gov't to crack down on spy cams during beach season

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People enjoy Haeundae Beach in Busan, May 26. / Korea Times photo by Jeon Hye-won
People enjoy Haeundae Beach in Busan, May 26. / Korea Times photo by Jeon Hye-won

By Kim Jae-heun

With summer vacationers ready to flock to beaches across the country, the government said it will carry out crackdowns on spy cams in the areas.

The Ministry of Gender Equality and Family said Wednesday it will cooperate with police to prevent and crack down on such crimes at Haeundae Beach in Busan, Daecheon Beach in South Chungcheong Province and Gyeongpodae Beach in Gangwon Province through the end of August.

The crackdown will focus on the secret photographing or filming of other holidaymakers' bodies. The ministry will also work together with local governments to check public toilets and dressing rooms for hidden cameras.

It asks people to report to nearby police stations or call 112 if they see someone secretly taking a picture of another person on the beach.

People secretly taking photos or filming the bodies of others are subject to up to five years in prison or 30 million won in fines. The criminal's personal information can also be made public if the crime is serious and the person is registered as a sex offender.

The government also plans to crack down on such illegal filming in subway stations as women are often targeted while walking up the stairs or taking the escalator in summer when they are wearing shorts or short skirts.

According to the Korean National Police Agency, 17,575 cases of sex crimes using hidden cameras were found nationwide between 2016 and 2018, and 31 percent of them occurred during the summer season from June to August.


Kim Jae-heun jhkim@koreatimes.co.kr


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