A wedding photographer in his 30s has been arrested in Seoul on suspicion of secretly installing a hidden camera inside a women’s dressing room at a wedding hall and illegally filming female visitors. Police say they have identified more than 10 victims so far and are examining whether additional women were recorded and how long the alleged filming continued.
The investigation began in May after management at a wedding venue in Jung-gu, a central district of the South Korean capital, reported suspicious activity. The Seoul Jungbu (Central) Police Station took over the case and identified the suspect—publicly referred to only as “A”—as a photographer who had been working at the site. According to investigators, he initially denied wrongdoing.
Digital evidence became pivotal. Officers determined that the covert device recovered at the venue had been connected to the suspect’s mobile phone. A forensic review of the handset subsequently uncovered illicit videos depicting more than 10 women in the dressing room. Based on those findings, police sought and obtained an arrest warrant, and the suspect was taken into custody in mid-August.
Authorities have not disclosed the dates and frequency of the recordings or whether any of the files were shared outside the device. Investigators are analyzing timestamps and the total volume of footage while working to identify all potential victims. They have also not stated whether the suspect’s workplace access within the venue played a role in carrying out the alleged crime.
The case is being pursued under South Korea’s Special Act on Sexual Violence Crimes, which criminalizes non-consensual filming of a person’s body using cameras or similar devices. Violations can bring penalties of up to seven years in prison or fines of up to 50 million Korean won (approximately $40,000). Additional charges may apply for the distribution, sale, or provision of such recordings. Police said they plan to refer the case to prosecutors once the scope of the offenses is confirmed.
Hidden-camera offenses—often called “molka” in South Korea—have been a recurring public concern, particularly in semi-private spaces such as changing rooms where visitors expect privacy. The Seoul case underscores the risks posed by discreet recording devices and the crucial role of digital forensics in uncovering clandestine surveillance in commercial and event settings.
