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Home > News > Industry news > Rising Trend of Cyber Sex Crimes in South Korea
South Korean police recently reported a shocking cyber sex crime case: 4 suspects were arrested for hacking approximately 120,000 home cameras, secretly filming and producing large amounts of illegal videos for sale. One suspect alone hacked tens of thousands of cameras, producing 545 illegal videos sold on overseas websites.
Devices installed by victims for security purposes instead became windows for criminals to invade privacy. The compromised devices were primarily installed in homes, karaoke rooms, and indoor cafes, originally intended for monitoring children, elderly, pets, or store security.
The South Korean National Police Agency’s Investigation Headquarters reported that all 4 suspects acted alone. Unemployed person A illegally hacked about 63,000 cameras, produced 545 sexual exploitation videos, and earned approximately 35 million won through overseas illegal websites. Company employee B “hacked” about 70,000 cameras, producing and selling 648 sexual exploitation videos, earning about 18 million won.
Police investigation showed that the videos produced by these two accounted for 62% of the total uploaded content on the relevant overseas website over the past year. The other two suspects hacked various numbers of cameras but only saved the stolen videos without distributing them. Currently, three of the four main suspects have been detained by police.
A: Hacked 63,000 cameras
Produced 545 illegal videos
Earned 35 million won
Detained
Exploited weak password vulnerabilities
Sold through overseas websites
Acted alone
Long-term undetected
Family homes
Karaoke rooms
Indoor cafes
Daycare centers
Pet shops
This case is not an isolated incident. Data released by the South Korean National Police Agency on November 16 shows that over the past year, South Korea has arrested more than 3,000 suspects involved in cyber sex crimes, a 47.8% year-on-year increase, with nearly half being under 20 years old.
Digital sex crimes have exploded in South Korea. Statistics show that the number of digital sex crimes in South Korea has doubled for two consecutive years. Among various cyber sex crime cases, those involving deepfake technology account for the highest proportion at 35.2%.
“Teenagers have become the main group involved in digital sex crimes. Among those arrested for deepfake technology, teenagers in their 10s accounted for 61.9%, and those in their 20s accounted for 30.2%, together making up over 90%.”
3,000+ suspects arrested
47.8% year-on-year increase
Nearly 50% under 20 years old
Deepfake cases account for 35.2%
10s teenagers: 61.9%
20s group: 30.2%
Total over 90%
Increasingly technical methods
Doubled for two consecutive years
Lower technical barriers
Commercialization of crime tools
Increase in cross-border crimes
How do criminals hack home cameras? In reality, most camera “hacks” don’t require high technical skills. So-called “hackers” often simply exploit “weak password” vulnerabilities.
Many users use default passwords or simple phrases when installing cameras, providing malicious attackers with an extremely simple, low-cost but highly damaging attack method.
Low market entry barriers result in mixed-quality products. Knockoff manufacturers lack the technical expertise to ensure video security. Some devices have backdoor vulnerabilities that are easily exploited by hackers.
Users lack basic security awareness, failing to regularly change passwords and update device firmware. Many don’t even realize their devices have been compromised.
Criminals openly sell hacking tools and tutorials on internet platforms. For just a few hundred dollars, anyone can crack IP addresses and account passwords.
“Home cameras transmit images over the internet in real-time, making them more vulnerable to hacker attacks than traditional closed-circuit monitoring. Police have identified 58 compromised locations and are guiding victims to change device passwords.”
Select cameras from reputable brands. Major manufacturers implement better security measures, and brands involved in safe city projects typically meet stricter security requirements.
Immediately change default passwords. Avoid simple passwords like “12345” and set complex passwords that you change regularly. Also, avoid using simple passwords for your router’s Wi-Fi.
Avoid installing cameras in private spaces whenever possible. If necessary, avoid bedrooms, bathrooms and other private areas. Adjust camera angles or cover lenses when at home.
Develop habits of regularly scanning for viruses and updating manufacturer-released firmware. If you notice camera abnormalities or changes in shooting angles, immediately shut down the device and investigate.
South Korean police stated they are cooperating with overseas investigative agencies to actively combat such crimes. The overseas “C Website” involved has long uploaded illegally filmed videos from multiple countries including South Korea. South Korean police have applied to relevant authorities to block access to the website.
Such transnational crimes require a joint response from the international community. South Korean police are strengthening investigative activities through cooperation with international organizations, using recognition software to analyze relevant content, and planning broader international cooperation.
“Beyond technical measures, we need to improve laws and regulations, increase the cost of crime, and strengthen public education to raise society’s awareness of privacy protection. As technology advances, the methods of the black industry chain are also constantly upgrading.”
Collaboration with overseas agencies
Requests to block illegal websites
Joint crackdown on transnational crimes
Information sharing mechanisms
Recognition software for content analysis
Blockchain traceability technology
AI monitoring of illegal transactions
Cross-border data tracking
Increase cost of crime
Strengthen privacy protection laws
Cross-border judicial cooperation
Severe penalties for illegal platforms
However, in this invisible war of privacy protection, vigilance alone is not enough. Facing increasingly sophisticated privacy theft technologies, we need more professional protective equipment.
BNT privacy protection series products are designed to combat various privacy threats in modern digital life.
Effectively block illegal signal interception
Protect your communication privacy
Prevent wireless signal leakage
Professional-grade protection equipment
Professional detection of hidden cameras
Locate eavesdropping devices
Comprehensive protection for home and office
Privacy assurance during travel
Block information leaks at the source
Device security detection
Network security assessment
Customized protection solutions
“Privacy awareness is the best protective shield. Life is full of traps that are hard to guard against. But as long as we remain vigilant at all times, enhance privacy protection awareness, and combine it with professional and reliable protective products, we can take the initiative in this privacy protection battle.”
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Copyright @ 2025 Military drone jammer|BNT China
Copyright @ 2025 Military drone jammer|BNT China
Copyright @ 2025 Military drone jammer|BNT China
