INCHEON – A YouTuber in his 40s has been arrested by South Korean police on charges of illegally installing spy cameras at early voting polling stations in the cities of Incheon and Yangsan. The early voting is part of the run-up to the parliamentary elections scheduled for April 10. The police operation comes after cameras were found at polling stations, sparking concerns over voter privacy and election integrity.
According to Yonhap News Agency, the individual is suspected of unlawfully entering five early voting locations in the Namdong and Gyeyang districts and setting up cameras designed to record the interior of these facilities. The arrest occurred on Thursday afternoon, following a tip-off about the clandestine activity, with the YouTuber facing charges related to unlawful entry and violations of communications secrecy.
The incident broadens, as police in Yangsan, located 301 kilometers southeast of Seoul, had earlier discovered spy cameras at four polling stations, with investigations suggesting the same YouTuber's involvement. He reportedly confessed to monitoring the National Election Commission's handling of early voting turnout rates. Further investigations are underway to ascertain if additional cameras were installed at other locations, as more devices have been found in Yangsan and Ulsan.
In response, the Ministry of the Interior and Safety has conducted nationwide inspections of early voting stations and identified spy cameras at 18 facilities across several cities, including Seoul, Incheon, Busan, and Yangsan. These facilities are either designated for the upcoming vote count or have been utilized for such purposes in past elections. Early voting for the parliamentary elections is set for April 5-6, with authorities now on high alert for any breaches of electoral process security.