Australian Woman Warns Female Travellers Of Hidden Cameras In South Korea

Jazmyn Jennings, an Australian woman residing in South Korea, has issued an urgent warning to female travelers planning to visit the Asian country. She highlights the pervasive issue of hidden cameras, stressing that South Korea faces a significant problem.

According to Jennings, public bathrooms are meticulously covered to thwart voyeurism, with cameras hidden in every conceivable nook and cranny.

Her cautionary message serves as a vital reminder for women to remain vigilant during their travels.

screenshot

The alarming surge of 'spycam porn' has reached epidemic proportions in South Korea, prompting thousands of women to take to the streets in protest. Public toilets undergo daily checks to uncover hidden devices used for illicit filming.

Shedding light on this critical issue in an online video, Jazmyn emphasized that the problem is insufficiently addressed in Western discourse.

The urgency of raising awareness about this pervasive concern is now more critical than ever.

'[It] is a huge problem in South Korea that is not discussed among foreigners,' she said.

She added, "If you go into any female bathroom, you will find every crevice plugged up with wet toilet paper," she continued sharing an ordinary tactic women use to stop cameras from being hidden in these spaces. This issue extends beyond toilets as well,' she said.

"We're talking Airbnbs, hotel rooms... anywhere that is a private area, you risk being exposed."

She added that tourists should buy a device that can recognize a hidden camera.

Unsplash

'They help you find the light in the room, and it'll show you [the hidden camera],' she explained. 'You can either report it or take it away.'

In South Korea, the distribution of pornography has been illegal and blocked online since 2007. However, the country now faces a significant challenge posed by an alarming surge in the so-called 'molka' phenomenon.

'Molka' refers to spycam videos, predominantly targeting women, that have been secretly filmed by men in various settings such as schools, toilets, and offices.

Another disturbing trend that has emerged is the widespread prevalence of 'revenge porn,' involving videos taken without the consent of the involved partner during intimate moments.

This troubling practice has added to the growing concern surrounding privacy violations.

Between 2013 and 2018, over 30,000 cases of 'molka' were reported to the police, highlighting the issue's magnitude.

In response, numerous women have taken to the streets of Seoul on multiple occasions to protest against these videos, aligning their efforts with the country's expanding #MeToo movement.

2019 witnessed a significant turning point when several high-profile K-pop stars admitted to their involvement in filming, distributing, or consuming illicit sex videos filmed without consent.

This revelation led to their resignations from the entertainment industry, drawing further attention to the problem.

South Korea, recognized as Asia's fourth-largest economy, prides itself on its technological prowess, boasting ultra-fast Internet and cutting-edge smartphones. However, these advancements have inadvertently fostered a community of tech-savvy individuals who engage in voyeuristic activities.

The explicit videos are widely shared in internet chatrooms and file-sharing sites, and sometimes they are even used as advertisements for websites promoting prostitution.

To compound the issue, hidden cameras have been ingeniously concealed within everyday devices that masquerade as clocks or fire alarms, making it easier to deceive unsuspecting victims.

While all smartphone manufacturers in South Korea must implement a loud shutter noise feature to discourage covert filming, offenders often employ special applications that mute the sound or resort to high-tech spy cameras hidden in items like eyeglasses, lighters, watches, car keys, and even neckties.

(For the latest trending stories, keep reading Indiatimes)