在韓國街頭拍照，雖然在多數情況下是合法的，但韓國對於個人隱私權與肖像權的保護非常嚴格，這使得在公共場合拍照時，若不留意「入鏡人物的拍攝方式與使用目的」，確實有可能會引發法律糾紛，甚至遭到報警或提告。

根據韓國的相關法律，個人肖像權（초상권）與個人資訊保護法（개인정보 보호법）是攝影行為中必須留意的兩大法源依據。肖像權主要保護個人對其外貌影像不被擅自拍攝、使用的權利，而個人資訊保護法則規範個人資料（包含可辨識身份的影像）不得在未經當事人同意的情況下被蒐集、散布或公開。這意味著，儘管街道、公園等屬於公共場所，但只要攝影畫面中明顯包含某個人、而且此人具有「辨識性」，就可能被視為侵犯其肖像權。

這樣的情況在實務上常常發生。例如，有人站在街頭拍攝城市景色，但如果畫面中某個路人被拍得非常清楚，而且成為畫面焦點，對方就有權主張自己「被擅自拍攝」。若此照片或影片又被上傳到公開平台（如YouTube、Instagram），則構成「未經同意的影像公開」，該行為甚至可構成民事侵權，嚴重時還可能觸犯刑法相關條文。

對於偷拍或猥褻攝影，韓國法律則更為嚴厲。根據《性暴力犯罪處罰特例法》第14條，任何在未經同意的情況下拍攝他人身體部位，尤其是私密部位如胸部、裙底、臀部等，即使相機畫面中沒有實際拍到裸露，也會被視為意圖拍攝猥褻影像而被依法懲罰。這種行為一經查獲，最重可處7年以下有期徒刑或最高三千萬韓元罰金，並需登錄性犯罪者資料，嚴重影響未來生活與出境自由。

而在一般情況下，若只是拍攝街景、食物、建築，但畫面中出現路人背影或模糊人像，一般不會構成法律問題。然而，如果拍攝的是街頭藝人、市場攤販或明確聚焦某個人的畫面，則需謹慎處理，最好事先取得對方同意。特別是在拍攝結束後將畫面用於商業用途或網路公開，如部落格文章、影片內容等，會被視為「使用他人肖像進行營利」，這在韓國社會尤其敏感。

實務上，一些YouTuber或旅遊攝影者在韓國拍攝時，也常會被保全、百貨公司職員甚至路人詢問拍攝用途。若能主動出示拍攝畫面、說明用途，並強調不涉及特定人物肖像，多數情況對方會予以理解並放行。但若被拍攝者主動表達反對、要求刪除，基於韓國法律與社會文化，應尊重其要求，當場刪除以避免衍生法律責任。

總結來說，在韓國街頭拍照並非完全禁止，但尊重他人肖像權與隱私權，是法律與文化上的底線。若違反此界線，的確可能被報警，甚至面臨立案與限制出境等後果。因此在韓國進行拍攝活動，特別是準備公開或營利用途時，建議盡可能避開陌生人面部，或事先取得被攝者同意，以保障自身權益並尊重當地法律文化。

Taking photos on the streets of South Korea is generally legal in most situations. However, the country has strict laws protecting individual privacy and portrait rights, which means that if one is not careful about how people are captured in the frame and how the images are used, legal disputes can arise — including the risk of being reported to the police or even sued.

Under South Korean law, two major legal frameworks govern photography: portrait rights (초상권) and the Personal Information Protection Act (개인정보 보호법). Portrait rights safeguard an individual's control over their likeness, prohibiting unauthorized photography or use of their image. Meanwhile, the Personal Information Protection Act prohibits the collection, distribution, or publication of any personal data — including identifiable images — without the subject’s consent. This means that even in public spaces such as streets and parks, if a person appears clearly and recognizably in a photo or video, it may be considered a violation of their portrait rights.

This issue often arises in practice. For instance, someone might be photographing an urban landscape, but if a passerby is captured clearly and becomes the visual focus of the image, that individual has the right to claim they were "photographed without consent." If that photo or video is then uploaded to public platforms like YouTube or Instagram, it can be deemed "unauthorized public disclosure of personal images," potentially constituting a civil offense and, in serious cases, even a criminal one.

South Korea enforces even stricter laws against secret or sexually inappropriate photography. According to Article 14 of the Act on Special Cases Concerning the Punishment of Sexual Crimes, taking photos of someone's body parts — particularly private areas such as the chest, under a skirt, or buttocks — without consent is punishable even if no nudity is captured. The mere intention to produce a lewd image is sufficient for prosecution. Violators can face up to 7 years in prison or fines of up to 30 million KRW, and will be listed in the sex offender registry, severely affecting future life opportunities and even the ability to travel abroad.

That said, in everyday situations, photographing street scenes, food, or architecture with non-identifiable people (e.g., blurry faces or people seen from behind) generally does not pose a legal issue. However, if the image clearly focuses on a street performer, vendor, or any identifiable individual, it is advisable to obtain their consent beforehand. Especially when the image will be used commercially or uploaded online — such as in blog posts, YouTube videos, or social media content — it is considered “profiting from someone else’s likeness,” which is particularly sensitive in South Korean society.

In practice, some YouTubers or travel photographers have reported being approached by security guards, department store staff, or passersby asking about the purpose of their filming. If photographers explain the intent, show the footage, and emphasize that no individual is being directly targeted, most people are understanding and will let them proceed. However, if someone captured in the footage expressly objects or asks to have the image deleted, South Korean law and social norms require that their request be honored immediately to avoid potential legal consequences.

In conclusion, photography in South Korea’s public spaces is not outright banned, but respecting others’ portrait and privacy rights is a fundamental legal and cultural principle. Violating this boundary could indeed lead to police reports, criminal charges, or even travel restrictions. Therefore, when filming or taking photos in South Korea — especially if you plan to publish or monetize the content — it is best to avoid showing the faces of strangers or obtain their explicit consent in advance, both to protect yourself legally and to respect the local culture.