Purpose: In this study, we aim to understand and explore the anxiety caused by illegal filming and to develop strategies to relieve this anxiety among young Korean women. Methods: Seven young Korean women were recruited through public announcements using the photovoice method, a type of participatory action research. Photographing, classification of the collected photos, and focus group interviews were conducted. Participants engaged in various structured activities, including orientation sessions to introduce the research objectives and methods, photo taking to document their anxieties, photo submission and categorization, and focus group discussions to share their experiences and reflections. Data analysis was conducted using a six-step thematic analysis method to ensure the validity and reliability of the findings. Results: Five themes and 11 subthemes were derived based on the participants’ anxiety about illegal filming. The first theme, “Tension that persists in everyday life” included cautious behavior on uphill paths, highlighting how anxiety shapes everyday decisions and physical behaviors in public spaces. The second theme, “Searching for illegal cameras due to anxiety,” encompassed specific actions that participants regularly undertook, such as using camera detection applications, carrying specialized preventive items, and routinely checking for reflections using fingers and mirrors to ensure privacy. The third theme, “Efforts to avoid harm,” detailed participants’ intentional selection of safe environments, such as utilizing secure restroom facilities, choosing locations equipped with safety mirrors, and consciously observing illegal filming prevention banners. The fourth theme, “Exposed to illegal filming crimes,” involved direct experiences with illegal filming crimes, including discovering holes in public restroom walls, encountering cameras concealed in shoes, and experiences with silent or disguised cameras. Finally, the fifth theme, “Mental distress due to accidental damage” resulting from unintended victimization, was poignantly captured in participants’ descriptions of having negative emotional and psychological experiences, emphasizing the long-lasting impacts of such invasions of privacy. Implications: The findings provide critical foundational insights into the specific anxieties that young Korean women experience about illegal filming. This study provides valuable information that can inform effective prevention and management strategies. Participants’ proactive behaviors, including adopting detection tools, carrying prevention-focused items, and using safety-enhancing public facilities, underscore significant efforts to manage personal anxieties. These individual-level strategies highlight the urgent need for broader, systematic, and institutional support structures to effectively combat and mitigate anxieties related to illegal filming. Suggestions: Based on these findings, several recommendations are proposed. First, future research should expand the participant demographics by including women across various age groups and occupational backgrounds. Second, given the subjective interpretations inherent in the photovoice methodology, repeated studies are essential for uncovering additional meanings, themes, and deeper contextual understanding. Finally, future research employing the photovoice method should integrate diverse interpretive activities, allowing participants to analyze and articulate their photographic narratives more profoundly. Such comprehensive and multifaceted research approaches will significantly enhance our understanding of women’s anxieties regarding illegal filming and contribute to developing more robust, effective, and responsive policy interventions and societal support mechanisms.