Busan International Film Festival Employee Jailed for Secretly Filming Colleague
An employee of the prestigious Busan International Film Festival (BIFF) was sentenced to one year in prison for illegally recording a colleague without her consent.
The Busan District Court’s 10th Criminal Division handed down the sentence on July 18. The man, only identified as “A,” was also ordered to complete a 40-hour sexual violence treatment program.
“A” was convicted of violating the Act on Special Cases Concerning the Punishment of Sexual Crimes. The victim, a woman in her 30s known as “B,” worked at BIFF on a short-term contract from April to July 2023.
During their encounters, “A” secretly filmed “B” using a mobile phone placed on a bedside table. The victim discovered the recordings later and reported the case to the police.
She also reported it to the Korean Film Gender Equality Center in May 2024.
“The defendant’s actions had severe consequences for the victim’s reputation and life,” the court stated. “She had turned down his offer of a financial settlement.”
The court noted the videos were not circulated or distributed online, which was taken into account during sentencing.
This case highlights ongoing concerns over employee safety and sexual harassment in the Korean entertainment industry, even within prestigious organizations like BIFF.
BIFF has not issued any public statements on the case yet.
