'Becoming the Second Jo Joo-bin?' Middle School Boy Sexually Harasses Female Middle Schooler of Same Age on SNS

Sexual Abuse Messages Sent to 8 Female Students
School Official Says "Not a Major Issue"

[Asia Economy Reporters Hyunju Lee and Byungdon Yoo] Amid heightened social attention to digital sex crimes following the Telegram Nth Room incident, a sexual harassment case using social networking services (SNS) has occurred at a middle school in Seoul, prompting education authorities to conduct a fact-finding investigation.

According to the Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education on the 17th, a report was received on the 14th regarding a sexual harassment incident among 3rd-year students at a middle school located in Yeongdeungpo-gu, Seoul. The Office has identified that a 3rd-year student, A, recently sent messages via Facebook to eight female students requesting them to show key parts of their bodies or demanding sexual acts.

One of the victim students’ parents reported the matter to the school, which then requested an investigation from the Yeongdeungpo Police Station in Seoul. The police handed the case over to the Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education, and the investigation is currently underway at the Southern Seoul Education Support Office.

A representative from the Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education stated, "Given that online classes are currently in progress, digital sex crimes among students are particularly concerning. If the facts are confirmed, we plan to respond strictly," adding, "The school will also verify the facts and impose separate disciplinary actions if necessary."

Among the ten practical guidelines recently announced by the Ministry of Education regarding online school openings is the rule: 'Do not record teachers or friends during class or distribute unauthorized recordings.' This appears to be due to concerns that sensitivity toward digital sex crimes might become lax in the online learning environment.

However, in contrast to the education authorities’ strict stance, the school has responded somewhat lukewarmly.

A school official said, "We do not consider this a major issue, and for more details, please contact the Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education," adding, "Due to student privacy concerns, we cannot disclose specific details."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.