Around 1,600 guests in hotels across South Korea were illegally filmed and live streamed online where users paid to watch, the country’s police revealed on Wednesday.
Reports suggest that the South Korean police busted this ring after a sting operation. And two men have been arrested while another two are being investigated in connection with the case, CNN reported.
The crime allegedly covered 42 rooms in 30 accommodations that spanned across 10 cities. Police believe that the businesses, that have not been named, weren’t involved in the crime. However, the hotel properties have been described as smaller establishments like motels and inns.
Cameras were allegedly concealed inside digital TV boxes, hairdryers holders and wall sockets among other places, the Cyber Investigation Department at the National Police Agency said.
The illegal footage was live-streamed on a website for members who, according to CNN, paid a monthly fee of $44.95 to access extra features. The website, reportedly launched in November.
The accused, if convicted, could face up to five years in prison and huge fines.
Advertisement
However, this isn’t new to South Korea as this issue has been plaguing the country since a while now. According to a New York Times’ story in September, the country reported more than 30,000 similar cases since 2013.
These cases have been so rampant that Seoul police revealed last year that there were carrying out regular checks of the city’s public restrooms for hidden cameras.
Search our database of more than 2,700 industry companies
