Seoul palace installs spy-cam detection in public toilet to combat illegal ‘molka’ filming

The installation addresses South Korea’s struggle with illegal filming, driven by the ease of access to small, hidden cameras known as ‘molka’

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South Korea installed a spy-cam detecter at a Seoul palace restroom to combat illegal filming, aiming to create safer public spaces amid rising concerns. Photo: Shutterstock

Published: 3:56pm, 10 Apr 2025Updated: 3:59pm, 10 Apr 2025

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.

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.