"Former Teacher Convicted in Appeal Trial for Sexual Harassment of 19 Students in 'School Me Too' Case"

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Gwan-ju] A former teacher at a girls' high school in Seoul, who was accused of sexually harassing high school students through the 'School Me Too' movement, was sentenced to prison again in the appellate court.

The Seoul High Court Criminal Division 9 (Presiding Judges Han Gyu-hyun, Kwon Soon-yeol, Song Min-kyung) on the 13th sentenced former Korean language teacher Lee Mo (60), who was charged with violating the Act on the Protection of Children and Juveniles from Sexual Abuse (forcible molestation), to one year in prison, the same as the first trial. The court also ordered him to complete a 40-hour sexual violence treatment program and imposed a five-year employment restriction in child and youth-related businesses.

The court stated, "The first trial comprehensively considered not only unfavorable but also favorable conditions for Lee when determining the sentence," and added, "The sentence cannot be seen as excessively heavy or light beyond the scope of discretion."

Lee was charged with repeatedly molesting 19 students over several years in classrooms and the teachers' office, including kissing the back of a student's hand while they were sleeping in class and suddenly touching sensitive body parts.

Lee's actions came to light through the 'School Me Too' movement in 2018, when high school graduates and others consecutively exposed teachers' sexual harassment and assault.

Lee claimed that he did not engage in inappropriate physical contact and that some physical contact was natural communication with students, but both the first and second trial courts did not accept this claim.

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