Illegal filming took place in Mapo-gu, Yeongdeungpo-gu and surrounding areas

[Getty Images Bank]
[Getty Images Bank]

A Chinese tourist in his 20s has been indicted on charges of secretly filming women in Seongsu-dong and surrounding areas of Mapo-gu, Yeongdeungpo-gu and Seongdong-gu in Seoul.

The Seoul Eastern District Prosecutors' Office indicted the man, identified only as A, without detention on Sept. 9 on charges of violating the Act on Special Cases Concerning the Punishment of Sexual Crimes — specifically the provision on filming using cameras and similar devices.

A was caught in the act and arrested by police at a cafe in Seongsu-dong at around 6 p.m. on Aug. 4, where he had been filming women with his mobile phone.

When police seized his phone, they found additional material suspected to show women filmed at other locations.

The investigation revealed that A had carried out illegal filming not only in Seongsu-dong but also in Mapo-gu and Yeongdeungpo-gu. A total of 27 women were confirmed as victims.

A had entered South Korea in late July for tourism purposes, investigators found.

Police issued a travel ban against A on Aug. 5, then conducted digital forensic analysis of his phone to identify additional victims and establish the full scope of the offenses before referring the case to prosecutors.

The travel ban was extended for one month beginning Sept. 5 and remains in effect.

Prosecutors indicted A without detention based on the findings of the investigation.


jshan@heraldcorp.com