HK women in hot water after taking photos in Korean sauna

A 67-year-old woman from Hong Kong was detained in South Korea for nearly three months on suspicion of photographing inside a Jjimjilbang, a Korean sauna in Jeju, in early July.

The woman, surnamed Lau, was arrested for committing a sexual offense on July 7 at 11 am in the women's section of a sauna after local police officers found photographs of three to four other guests on her mobile phone, according to Korean media reports.

Lau stated that her sole purpose was to capture images of the spa amenities and expressed her lack of awareness regarding the associated controversy.

As Lau entered South Korea with a visa-free entry, local authorities have imposed travel restrictions to prevent her from leaving the country while conducting further investigations.

Her husband told reporters that she was held for questioning at the police station until July 9, with the condition that she submit her passport. 

He added that local authorities still hold Lau's passport, leaving them stranded on the island and he had requested assistance from the Chinese Consulate General in Jeju and the Hong Kong Immigration Department.

Immigration Department said Wednesday (Sep 25) that upon receiving the couples' request for help, it promptly liaised with the Commissioner of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People's Republic of China and the Chinese Consulate to assist.

The Department affirmed that it will maintain close communication with all parties and actively follow up on the situation.