Man in 20s Sentenced to 1 Year for Sharing Spy Cam Photos of Female Teachers

A man in his 20s has been sentenced to prison in a first trial for secretly filming female teachers and sharing the images with classmates during his high school years. The Busan District Court's Judge Park Byung-ju sentenced A (male, 20s) to one year in prison on the 28th, also ordering him to complete a 40-hour sex offense treatment program, for charges including violation of the Act on Special Cases Concerning the Punishment of Sexual Crimes (filming using cameras, etc.). A was found to have secretly filmed the bodies of eight female teachers more than 178 times between May and November 2024 while attending a high school in Busan, and the photos were shared or passed around among classmates via messenger apps. The court did not detain A, citing no risk of flight and the opportunity for victim restitution.

Six classmates accused of aiding and abetting A's crimes also received penalties. One was sentenced to six months in prison with a two-year suspension of sentence, while two others were fined 10 million won and 3 million won, respectively. The remaining three received a suspended sentence with a 2 million won fine.

Issuing the one-year prison sentence and 40-hour sex offense treatment program order, the court emphasized that "schools must be safe spaces not only for students but also for teachers." The court stated that "digital sex crimes are highly blameworthy due to the difficulty of completely eliminating the videos and the ease with which they can be disseminated," adding that "considering the significant mental distress and sexual discomfort the victims likely experienced, the fact that the defendants have not received forgiveness from the victims, and their plea for severe punishment, the guilt is not minor."