| With 8 million surveillance cameras operating everywhere from train stations to streets, Korea is now one of the most-watched nations in the world. / Yonhap |
Surveillance is more intense than ever ― at the cost of privacy
By Jung Min-ho
Anyone who walks around almost any city in Korea is recorded on video. With 8 million surveillance cameras operating everywhere from subway stations to streets, Korea is now one of the most-watched nations in the world.
As surveillance cameras have become increasingly common as a crime prevention method and forensic evidence in court, concerns have also been raised about people's privacy and liberty.
The National Information Society Agency estimated in 2015 that there were about 8 million closed-circuit television (CCTV) cameras installed across the country, though it is difficult to know the exact number.
For police officers, this is welcome news. CCTV cameras help them not only track down criminal suspects but also provide evidence to prove their guilt in court. Police and prosecutors have increasingly relied on video footage in doing their work in recent years.
"Securing CCTV footage near the crime scene is one of the first things investigators do these days," Professor Kwak Dae-kyung at the police administration department of Dongguk University told The Korea Times. "When there were no CCTV cameras, police had to rely on the memory of witnesses, who may lie or remember things incorrectly. But CCTV footage is consistent and objective, so its value as evidence is very high."
CCTV footage certainly can't be a perfect solution for all criminal cases. However, it is widely and increasingly used in courts alongside other evidence, such as witnesses' testimonies and documents, lawyer Kim Yong-min said.
Most police officers have taken advantage of the new technology. A journal published by the National Police Agency in 2015 shows that 80 percent of police officers said they have collected CCTV footage for their work.
"I have no doubt that police can do their work more effectively with CCTV cameras," Kwak said. "Their presence also deters crimes in the first place as a warning to potential criminals nearby."
Experts say the trend of more CCTV cameras and their increasing use in investigations will continue. One of the reasons is growing demand. The city of Yeoju in Gyeonggi Province recently installed 144 additional CCTV cameras across the city. Many, especially those who live in less developed areas, demand more cameras in their neighborhoods for safety.
CCTV cameras are no longer for places such as airports and banks, where security is a critical issue. Today, they are a part of everyday life. According to the Gyeonggi Provincial Office of Education, every school in the province now has at least two CCTV cameras.
Privacy concerns
With CCTV cameras becoming smaller, better and ubiquitous, privacy in public places may soon be a thing of the past.
The estimated 8 million CCTV cameras across Korea may be an underrepresentation of how much people are actually watched, given that the number doesn't include cameras attached to vehicles and mobile phones.
Under the laws, people can install CCTV cameras on their property. Neither registration nor permission is needed. The only thing required is to let people know where the cameras are located, and regulators barely check this requirement.
Many are rightly concerned about the invasion of privacy. As people move around in public, they are naturally expected to be photographed and recorded and there is little they can do about it.
Perhaps the biggest problem is that few people even realize how frequently they are on camera. "CCTV footage showing the actions of random people is owned and, to a certain extent, used by strangers. This may be the most dangerous part," Kim said.
CCTV cameras have been increasingly used for various crimes from stealing credit card PIN numbers to posting revenge porn to shame an ex.
Some experts question the efficacy of CCTV cameras, saying its effect on crime prevention and reduction is limited and much lesser than believed.
According to Kim, police sometimes deliberately don't collect CCTV footage that could work in favor of the suspect. "As a result, judges can see only part of the truth," he noted.
Pessimists say CCTV cameras, which were meant to protect people's freedom by creating a safer environment, actually hurt it. They also argue criminal defendants are as keen on using them in their favor as police are.
Despite all the concerns, however, change is inevitable. More streets will be filled with more CCTV cameras, and they will record everyone near them ― just in case.