A Chinese tourist in his 20s has been charged with secretly filming 27 women in Seoul's Seongsu-dong, Mapo and Yeongdeungpo districts.
The Seoul Eastern District Prosecutors' Office indicted the Chinese national, identified only as A, on the 9th without detention on charges of violating the Act on Special Cases Concerning the Punishment of Sexual Crimes, prosecutors said on the 15th. The law covers illegal filming using cameras and similar devices.
A is accused of using a mobile phone to illegally film women at a cafe in Seongsu-dong, Seongdong District, at around 6 p.m. on Aug. 4.
Police arrested A at the scene and seized the phone after responding to a report from one of the women, who said someone was secretly filming her.
The investigation widened after officers found additional material on the seized phone that appeared to show other women. A police examination of the device found that A had illegally filmed women not only in Seongsu-dong but also in the Mapo and Yeongdeungpo districts of central Seoul. A total of 27 victims have been identified.
A entered South Korea in late July as a tourist, according to the investigation. Police imposed a travel ban on A on Aug. 5, the day after the offense, to allow for further investigation.
Police then referred the case to prosecutors after conducting digital forensic analysis of the seized phone and confirming additional victims and details of the alleged crimes.
The travel ban on A has been extended for one month from Sept. 5. Prosecutors indicted A without detention based on the findings of the investigation.
