South Korea has formed a special task force to hunt down hidden cameras filming women in public places.

The Seoul metropolitan government in South Korea has established a team to hunt for hidden cameras in order to prevent secretly filmed videos of women in public from being uploaded online.

These secret videos and images – known as Molka – are often filmed by individuals who attach cameras to shoes or clothing and aim them at women's skirts on public transport or in elevators. They can also appear in restrooms or changing rooms.

These clips and images are then shared with private online groups or posted on pornographic websites.

Police figures show that the number of cases of surreptitious filming in Seoul increased from 990 in 2012 to 3,638 in 2015. "Almost all the victims are women. They suffer significant psychological trauma," Nam Myung Hee, a member of the team hunting down surreptitious cameras, told the BBC in an interview.

South Korea's team of scavengers who hunt down hidden cameras. Photo: JUHYOSANG

Ms. Hee, a 47-year-old woman, works for one of the 25 teams that hunt for hidden cameras across Seoul, established earlier this year. From August to September, the team scoured more than 9,500 locations throughout the city but has yet to find any hidden cameras.

In addition, the group distributed leaflets about surreptitious filming, and Ms. Hee believes their campaign was successful in raising public awareness about Molka.

"I was skeptical about the effectiveness of the campaign even after becoming a member of the group hunting down hidden cameras. But when I saw people's reactions, I thought it was worthwhile," Ms. Hee explained.

According to Se Woong Koo, who works at Expose magazine, secretly filming women in sensitive areas, along with misogyny in South Korea, is also a reaction to the country's changing gender roles. "This is a society with a low crime rate. However, sexual crimes are a different matter," Se stated.

"More and more men believe that women are being given rights they don't deserve. I think sexual crimes in South Korea are a way to express anger towards women. They want revenge, and Molka is an easy way to do it," Se added, noting that many women lose their jobs or have their relationships broken after becoming victims of Molka.

Despite a wide-ranging search, the team had little success in finding any hidden cameras. Photo: JUHYOSANG

If a hidden camera is discovered, a report will be sent to the police for investigation. Once charged, the perpetrator could face up to five years in prison or a fine of 10 million won (approximately $8,500).

However, Mr. Se believes that Molka will not truly end until the government imposes stricter penalties. "In 70% of the cases brought to court, many people get away with it simply by paying a fine or receiving a suspended sentence," Mr. Se revealed.

Since 2004, South Korea has banned the sale of phones that allow users to mute the camera shutter sound. However, according to the Korea Times, there is no way to limit silent camera apps on smartphones, which are becoming increasingly popular.

According to The Laborer