In August, an incident occurred that angered South Koreans. It was a water park hidden camera incident. A video captured the appearance of women around a dressing room and shower room at a water park. The video was outlawed by overseas sites. The water park found the video and declared it directly to the police. In the video, the women’s faces and bodies were exposed. More than anything, people were shocked because the culprit who took this video is a woman, and she got money from a man whom she met in a chat site. This water park video is about 185 minutes. The number of women who was damaged by this video reached 200. Ji Gyeong-eun(’15, Dept. of Plant Medicine), said, “Every year, I go to the water park. When I saw that incident on the news, I was shocked. I’m very scared and anxious that somebody could have taken pictures of my naked body.” Because of this water park hidden camera incident, anxiety among people has become greater.
  Hidden cameras are not an awkward subject to us. Using a hidden camera is a common crime. Hidden camera crimes in subways, buses or toilets have frequently happened, but the incidents were a hot topic only at that time. However, because of this water park hidden camera incident, people are showing a different reaction from the previous crimes. Women are beginning to be careful about hidden cameras. When they go into a bathroom, they look for small holes and guess the places where cameras might be installed. Also, women feel anxious about people with cell phones pointed at them in buses or subways. Jo Seon-hye(’15, Business Administration), said, “In the past, I wasn’t concerned about hidden cameras. Nowadays, when I go to the bathroom, I’m trying to find small cameras.” Because of this incident, women are more concerned about hidden cameras than before.
  Over time, the current technology on hidden cameras has become diversified. Then, what’s the punishment for hidden camera crimes? According to current law, secret photographers  receive a punishment only if the crime is about sexual violence. According to Sexual Violence Special Law, when you take a picture of another person without their consent by using a camera and induce sexual desire or a sense of shame, that culprit will be punished by 5 years or less in prison or 10 million won. Also, their personal information is preserved and they are monitored for 20 years by the government.
  There are many situations when perpetrators can be punished by law. What about sending a hidden camera video to a friend while texting. Is this also a crime? The answer is yes. People who distribute, sell, lease, provide or exhibit these videos publicly can be punished. Therefore, not only people who have taken the hidden camera footage are criminals, video providers are also guilty.
  Also, a victim who secretly negotiates with a perpetrator or withdraws the complaint can also be punished. In 2011, a so-called Dogani law was implemented. This law is about punishment for sexual violence crimes. The reasons for  the law are concerned for the victim’s honor and the occurrence of secondary damage. Before the amendment, victims had to accuse criminals if they wanted to punish them. However, the amended Dogani law allows for a criminal to be punished without the victim’s accusation.
  Then, to prevent hidden camera crimes, what should we do? In fact, there is no way to prevent the crimes perfectly. However, these ways might help to prevent these crimes. When you ride on a subway, sit at the front or back because hidden camera culprits hate the front and back seats of subways. In addition, for women who are wearing short skirts, it is wise to cover your rear with a bag or item that you are carrying if you go up the stairs. Moreover, if you are in an elevator or enclosed space, you have to stand at 45 degrees so as not to show your back to strangers because perpetrators tend to give up easily when a person shows this attitude.
  In fact, even if we are actively aware of hidden cameras, its technology and new methods will be developed. Strong punishments can prevent hidden camera crimes. If there is no progress in punishment, the incidents can repeat again.

By Choi Ji-su
js36@cbnu.ac.kr