60-Year-Old Hong Kong Woman Arrested for Secretly Filming Others in Jeju Steam Room

A 67-year-old Hong Kong woman was arrested in July for secretly filming other bathers in a steam room, known as a “Korean sauna,” in Jeju. The woman claimed she was “disrespected” and took the photos out of “surprise.” She is being investigated for violating the “Special Cases of Sexual Violence Law” and is banned from leaving the country.

Incident Sparks Investigation

According to South Korean media reports, the suspect was suspected of filming the naked bodies of other guests with her cellphone in the women’s section of a jjimjilbang in Jeju at 11 a.m. on July 7. When the Jeju Western Police Station received a complaint and checked the woman’s cellphone, they found that the photos included 3 to 4 guests of the bathhouse and arrested her on the spot for violating the Special Law on Sexual Violence.

Woman Detained for Nearly Three Months

The woman involved in the case entered South Korea to travel without a visa. The police have requested that the woman be prevented from leaving the country while they conduct further investigation, and her cellphone will be digitally identified. Her husband reportedly said that the local police had still withheld his wife’s passport. Although she was able to move freely, she was not allowed to leave the country.

Immigration Department Provides Assistance

In response to the incident, the Immigration Department stated that after receiving the client’s request for help, it immediately learned about the situation through the Office of the Commissioner of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Hong Kong and the Chinese Consulate General in Jeju, and provided appropriate advice and feasible assistance according to the client’s wishes. The Immigration Department will continue to maintain close contact with the parties, the Commissioner’s Office and the Consulate General, actively follow up on the incident, and provide feasible assistance according to the parties’ wishes.