South Korea’s Spy Cam Crisis

South Korea’s spy cam crisis, also known as the Molka crisis, persists despite the country’s democratization. Daily illegal spy cameras are placed and found throughout public spaces. These cams disproportionately target women and film their most intimate moments without consent.

The government of South Korea has responded to the issue by implementing laws and policies to deter and penalize offenders. However, failure to address underlying cultural issues allows the crisis to endure. The spy cam crisis is a product of deep-rooted sexism, and without a comprehensive government response, women will continue to suffer.

Spy Cameras and Digital Sex Crimes

Spy cams are tiny, easily concealed cameras that come in different forms. Some are tucked out of sight, while others are disguised as household items. Spy cams have been found in clocks, car keys, USB sticks, and paintings. Digital sex crimes involve taking non-consensual intimate images or videos. Victims of such crimes are often strangers in spaces like toilet stalls, public transit or changing rooms. However, victims are not always estranged. Many victims know their offender, and the crime can happen in places like one’s school, workplace, or the comfort of their own home. Non-consensual content is distributed and monetized in online forums without the victim’s knowledge. Roughly 80 percent of the victims are female, while the majority of perpetrators are male.

Digital sex crimes devastatingly impact victims. These crimes affect how women live in South Korea – how they navigate public spaces, what they wear, and who they trust. The following excerpt from a survivor reveals such a reality:

“I’m afraid of using bathrooms when I’m outside. If I have to use one, I spend several minutes [checking] for cameras on the toilet, the gaps between walls, the bathroom door, hinges, etc. Even after making sure there is no camera, I still feel nervous and worried that I may be being filmed. Sometimes I feel a sudden attack of fear that there might be photos or images of me being circulated that I’m not aware of. I went to a restroom at Dongdaegu train station a few days ago and found that almost every stall had at least one hole that had been plugged by other women.”

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