10-04-2025
Seoul palace installs spy-cam detection in public toilet to combat illegal ‘molka' filming
South Korean authorities have installed a restroom equipped with a spy-cam detection system at a tourist hotspot, in a bid to address the rampant issue of illegal filming, which has become a growing concern in the country.
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The toilet is located in Changgyeonggung Palace in central Seoul, which attracts more than a million visitors annually.
It features ceiling-mounted thermal sensors that can detect hidden cameras in real time, as well as monitors designed to identify attempts to film over partition walls, creating what officials called a highly secure monitoring set-up, JoongAng Daily reported on Tuesday.
We plan to create a safer environment for visitors by gradually expanding the installation
Kim Eung-rye, Changgyeonggung Palace Office head
To deter illegal recording, warning stickers have been placed inside and outside the restroom.
'We plan to create a safer environment for visitors by gradually expanding the installation of these permanent illegal filming detection systems to other public restrooms within the palace,' Kim Eung-rye, head of the Changgyeonggung Palace Office, told JoongAng Daily.
The installation highlights South Korea's ongoing struggle with illegal filming, a pervasive issue fuelled by the widespread availability of small, easily concealed cameras known as molka.
The Changgyeonggung Palace in Seoul, South Korea, has taken steps to stop illegal filming in public restrooms. Shutterstock Images
Images captured by these hidden cameras – often placed in public restrooms, changing rooms, and hotels – primarily target women and are frequently uploaded to websites where men pay to access them.
