Teenager gets four years in prison for filming women's toilets in Jeju

A 19-year-old former student convicted of illegally filming the women's restroom at his high school and family restaurant in Jeju and posting the videos on social media was sentenced to four years in prison on Wednesday.

The Jeju District Court also said he violated the Law on Special Cases Concerning Punishment of Sexual Crimes and would be banned from employment in institutions related to children and persons with disabilities for five years. The local court ordered him to also undergo 40 hours of psychological therapy.

He was found guilty of illegally filming the women's toilets at his father's restaurant and his co-ed high school, as well as women at bus stops, 235 times between September and mid-October last year. He was also found guilty of broadcasting the clips around ten times on social media.

On October 18, a teacher at his high school discovered a hidden mobile device hidden in a box of tissues in the school bathroom. The teacher then reported the discovery to the police.

The then minor went to the police two days after the report was filed. The school expelled him on November 7.

According to digital forensic analysis, the number of victims amounts to around 200 people, including 10 teachers and around 40 classmates. Around 150 unidentifiable victims are believed to be travelers and residents.

He has been detained for flight risk since December 6.

The judge said the nature of the offense was “extremely malicious” as he “cleverly hid cameras in toilets and distributed the recordings, which may trigger victims' sexual embarrassment, to satisfy his sexual desire”.

The judge also noted that children and adolescents were among the victims.

However, justice took into account the 19-year-old man's confession to his offenses and the fact that he was a minor at the time he committed his crimes.

After the local court's ruling, a union representing teachers in Jeju issued a statement saying it would “take the initiative to ensure that the offender is punished more severely.”

The group said it would “raise awareness of this crime through a nationwide petition demanding tougher penalties” if the teacher victims asked an appeals court for a harsher sentence.

The union stressed that a “vicious cycle is created by lighter sanctions against minor sex offenders”, adding that more cases of illegal filming of teachers have arisen even after the 19-year-old's case came to light. years.

The group also said the teachers involved were traumatized.

The recent decision should become a cornerstone that can help “ensure the basic human rights of teachers and foster a safer and stronger educational environment,” the union said.

The union promised to support the victimized teachers and to make efforts to prevent the recurrence of similar crimes.

BY IM SOUNG-BIN, LEE SOO-JUNG [[email protected]]