South Korean police have arrested four people on suspicion of secretly filming around 1,600 hotel guests and live-streaming or posting the footage online.

Mini-spy cameras were set up in TV set-top boxes, hair dryers and electrical outlets in 42 rooms across 30 hotels throughout the country, the Korean National Police Agency said.

The men earned about seven million won (£4,712) by posting or live-streaming the footage on an overseas-based internet site they opened last year, according to police.

Image: Thousands of women have rallied against South Korea's problem with hidden camera pornography

The two main culprits could face up to seven years in prison each if they are convicted.

One of the main suspects is accused of installing the cameras after entering the hotels as a guest.


The other was accused of being responsible for launching and managing the now-closed website.

The two remaining suspects were allegedly involved in buying the spy cameras or funding the internet site's operation, according to police.

Officers said they are the first arrests in the country for live-streaming the private lives of hotel guests on an overseas-based website.

The illegal distribution of video taken by hidden cameras is a serious social problem in South Korea.

Thousands of women rallied in Seoul several times last year demanding stronger government measures.

Image: Jung Joon-young has ended his career. Pic: Topstarnews

In a separate case, the South Korean K-pop star Jung Joon-young has quit music and TV after confessing to secretly filming himself having sex with women.

The 30-year-old then shared the footage in a mobile chat room.

Joon-young was the second K-pop star to end his career in 48 hours.

Seungri, 29, a former member of the boy band BIGBANG, announced his retirement on 1 March after he was charged with sex bribery.

The singer, who has multiple business interests, was questioned at the weekend over accusations he had offered prostitutes to potential investors at clubs in Seoul's upmarket Gangnam district.