In order to reliably detect a target object located within a projection area and measure a distance to the detected target object, a distance measurement system includes: a light emitting device including a phase-modulation-type spatial light modulator element, and configured to emit projected light for forming a pattern associated with a phase distribution displayed on a display part of the spatial light modulator element, toward at least two projection areas; a light receiving device for capturing an area including a pattern to be formed by projected light emitted by the light emitting device; and a control device for controlling light emission from the light emitting device, verifying, for each projection area, presence or absence of a target object within the projection area by analyzing imaging data captured by the light receiving device, and measuring a distance to a detected target object.