Teenage Boy Arrested For Secretly Filming 40 Year Old Woman In The Bathroom
A high school student was arrested earlier today for secretly filming a woman in the toilet while he was hiding in the next stall of the women’s bathroom.
The Osan Police Station announced on February 5 that they had taken a high school student, referred to only as ‘A’, into custody on charges of violating the Sexual Violence Punishment Act by using a camera to film without consent.
The incident happened on February 2 around 7:40 PM when the teenager allegedly entered the bathroom and took pictures of a woman in her 40s. Following a witness report, the police responded to the scene, where they obtained A’s mobile phone through voluntary submission and confirmed the illegal pictures.
According to reports, the high schooler stated that he had to enter the women’s bathroom due to the men’s being full, and that curiosity led him to take the pictures.
I entered the women’s restroom because the men’s was occupied by other friends, and I committed the act out of curiosity.
— Teenager A
Osan police reported that there is no evidence pointing towards the teenager distributing the footage elsewhere. Meanwhile, A’s phone is going through a forensic analysis. Police are also investigating whether the high school student has committed other similar crimes.
Under Article 14 of the Sexual Violence Punishment Act, penalties are enforced for unauthorized filming with a camera or similar device, particularly when it captures an individual in a manner that could provoke sexual desire or embarrassment without their consent. This law saw significant amendments in May 2020 following the notorious “Nth room case,” which led to stricter legal consequences. The amendments increased the maximum prison sentence from 5 to 7 years and raised the fines from ₩30.0 million KRW (about $22,400 USD) to ₩50.0 million KRW (about $37,300 USD).
Additionally, individuals who engage in distributing, selling, renting, providing, or publicly showcasing the recorded material or any copies (including copies of copies) may face penalties of up to 7 years in prison or fines reaching ₩50.0 million KRW (about $37,300 USD).