Aussie woman reveals the shocking truth about travelling to South Korea
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Content warning: This issue explores subjects such as cyber-sexual violence that may be distressing for some readers. Discretion is advised.
South Korea is a popular holiday destination for many around the world. But just like any other country, it is filled with concerning issues that might make even the most seasoned traveller think twice about visiting.
This is because a hidden menace has been rearing its ugly head more often these past few years, creating a dangerous ‘epidemic’ that’s targeting both local and foreign women alike.
An Australian living in South Korea, Jazmyn Jennings, has shared her experiences while living in the country and issued a serious travel warning to anyone with plans to visit.
In her viral video, which has since been viewed over 7.3 million times, Jazmyn discussed something which she said is ‘a huge problem in South Korea that is not discussed enough by foreigners’.
This problem’?
Pervy ‘hidden cameras’, or as they are known in South Korea, ‘molka’.
‘South Korea has a really huge problem with hidden cameras,’ she said in a video she uploaded on social media.
‘If you go into any single female bathroom — it might be the same for males, I don’t know — you will see every single crevice of that bathroom plugged up with wet toilet paper,’ she warned.
‘Women do this in South Korea to stop the possibility of a small hidden camera being able to film them, which in a lot of cases is usually broadcasted online for men to watch,’ Jazmyn explained.
According to Jazmyn, this is a problem in the country that’s not discussed nearly enough by foreigners visiting or living in South Korea.
'Spy-cam porn' has become an epidemic in the country, with thousands of women turning out in protest against it and public toilets getting checked daily for devices.
And unbeknownst to many, there are hidden cameras being placed in seemingly innocent objects, such as light fixtures, fire alarm systems, washroom hand dryers and even air fresheners.
‘This issue extends beyond toilets as well, so we’re talking Airbnb’s, hotel rooms — basically anywhere that is a private area, you run the risk of being exposed to hidden cameras,’ Jazmyn continued.
Sadly, this issue isn’t new.
The country has been battling a growing epidemic of 'molka' videos, mostly showing women having been secretly filmed by men in schools, toilets and offices.
In Seoul, 'safety sheriffs' were deployed in 2018 during a months-long crackdown on hidden cameras. The authorities were instructed to perform daily checks of public bathrooms throughout the city. However, it is unclear whether the same strategy is still being used.
In 2019, two men were arrested by the police for live-streaming 1,600 motel guests using hidden cameras in 42 rooms around the country.
This led to heavy protests under the slogan ‘my life is not your porn’, with police toughening up penalties for peeping tom offences – it was increased to five years in jail and a fine of up to $33,645 AUD.
Pornography is also illegal in South Korea. However, the issue remains rampant.
In a previous report by ABC News, Kim Yeo-Jin, director of Korea Cyber Sexual Violence Response Centre, an organisation that provides support services for victims of cyber-sexual violence, explained how victims are often powerless to remove illegal footage that circulates online without their consent.
She also said there was difficulty in punishing perpetrators due to anonymity and the lack of cooperation from overseas porn websites.
Jazmyn suggests that it’s best to err on the side of caution and buy a hidden camera detector.
Hidden camera detectors generally work by scanning for RF signals and then indicating the presence of hidden cameras with a sound or light.
‘These hidden cameras are getting so ridiculously well-disguised. You can find them hidden in fire alarm systems, clocks, and alarm clocks,’ she said.
Meanwhile, documentary filmmaker Youjin Do, who created a short film called Open Shutters which explored this issue further last year, wrote on her social media page that many men continue to take part in this culture without feeling guilty because they consume the footage as a ‘natural porn genre’.
‘This is such a sick part of rape culture deep inside of Korean society,’ she said.
While this story takes place in South Korea, this issue might be prevalent in other countries as well, but it may not be as widely reported or known. We hope, through increased awareness and understanding, safeguards can be put in place to protect people’s privacy both at home and abroad.
Share your thoughts about this story in the comments below.
South Korea is a popular holiday destination for many around the world. But just like any other country, it is filled with concerning issues that might make even the most seasoned traveller think twice about visiting.
This is because a hidden menace has been rearing its ugly head more often these past few years, creating a dangerous ‘epidemic’ that’s targeting both local and foreign women alike.
An Australian living in South Korea, Jazmyn Jennings, has shared her experiences while living in the country and issued a serious travel warning to anyone with plans to visit.
In her viral video, which has since been viewed over 7.3 million times, Jazmyn discussed something which she said is ‘a huge problem in South Korea that is not discussed enough by foreigners’.
The woman issued a warning to all travellers planning to visit South Korea. Credit: Alex Andrews/Pexels
This problem’?
Pervy ‘hidden cameras’, or as they are known in South Korea, ‘molka’.
‘South Korea has a really huge problem with hidden cameras,’ she said in a video she uploaded on social media.
‘If you go into any single female bathroom — it might be the same for males, I don’t know — you will see every single crevice of that bathroom plugged up with wet toilet paper,’ she warned.
‘Women do this in South Korea to stop the possibility of a small hidden camera being able to film them, which in a lot of cases is usually broadcasted online for men to watch,’ Jazmyn explained.
According to Jazmyn, this is a problem in the country that’s not discussed nearly enough by foreigners visiting or living in South Korea.
This is an actual photograph released by the police to raise awareness about the ongoing problem. Credit: South Korea Police
'Spy-cam porn' has become an epidemic in the country, with thousands of women turning out in protest against it and public toilets getting checked daily for devices.
And unbeknownst to many, there are hidden cameras being placed in seemingly innocent objects, such as light fixtures, fire alarm systems, washroom hand dryers and even air fresheners.
‘This issue extends beyond toilets as well, so we’re talking Airbnb’s, hotel rooms — basically anywhere that is a private area, you run the risk of being exposed to hidden cameras,’ Jazmyn continued.
Sadly, this issue isn’t new.
The country has been battling a growing epidemic of 'molka' videos, mostly showing women having been secretly filmed by men in schools, toilets and offices.
In Seoul, 'safety sheriffs' were deployed in 2018 during a months-long crackdown on hidden cameras. The authorities were instructed to perform daily checks of public bathrooms throughout the city. However, it is unclear whether the same strategy is still being used.
In 2019, two men were arrested by the police for live-streaming 1,600 motel guests using hidden cameras in 42 rooms around the country.
This led to heavy protests under the slogan ‘my life is not your porn’, with police toughening up penalties for peeping tom offences – it was increased to five years in jail and a fine of up to $33,645 AUD.
Pornography is also illegal in South Korea. However, the issue remains rampant.
In a previous report by ABC News, Kim Yeo-Jin, director of Korea Cyber Sexual Violence Response Centre, an organisation that provides support services for victims of cyber-sexual violence, explained how victims are often powerless to remove illegal footage that circulates online without their consent.
She also said there was difficulty in punishing perpetrators due to anonymity and the lack of cooperation from overseas porn websites.
This issue is rampant in South Korea. Image credit: The Seniors Discount Club
Jazmyn suggests that it’s best to err on the side of caution and buy a hidden camera detector.
Hidden camera detectors generally work by scanning for RF signals and then indicating the presence of hidden cameras with a sound or light.
‘These hidden cameras are getting so ridiculously well-disguised. You can find them hidden in fire alarm systems, clocks, and alarm clocks,’ she said.
Meanwhile, documentary filmmaker Youjin Do, who created a short film called Open Shutters which explored this issue further last year, wrote on her social media page that many men continue to take part in this culture without feeling guilty because they consume the footage as a ‘natural porn genre’.
‘This is such a sick part of rape culture deep inside of Korean society,’ she said.
Share your thoughts about this story in the comments below.
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