Female Student's Buttocks 'Tuk Tuk' by 50s Teacher, 7 Million Won Fine in Appeal Trial

On the 15th, the Gwangju High Court's 1st Criminal Division (Presiding Judge Kim Tae-ho) dismissed the appeals of both teacher A (59), who was indicted on charges of molestation by deception, and the prosecution, maintaining the original verdict.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Intern Reporter Kim Bong-ju] A teacher accused of molesting a female student by slapping her buttocks with his hand was sentenced to a fine in the appellate court, following the first trial.

On the 15th, the 1st Criminal Division of the Gwangju High Court (Presiding Judge Kim Tae-ho) dismissed the appeals of both teacher A (59) and the prosecution in the appeal trial for charges of molestation by deception, upholding the original verdict.

A maintains the fine of 7 million won and 40 hours of sexual violence treatment lectures as sentenced in the first trial.

A was prosecuted for two counts of molestation: in September 2017, touching a female student's buttocks with a janggu stick while she was climbing the school stairs, and later that winter, slapping another female student's buttocks with his hand after seeing her wearing slippers while going to the school store.

At the school, wearing slippers while going to the store is prohibited.

A claimed that he never slapped the student's buttocks with his hand and that he was merely playfully hitting a student who helped him with a stick to show friendliness.

The appellate court stated, "Considering the evidence, the victim's testimony is credible, and the first trial's judgment recognizing that the defendant molested the victim based on the testimony is justified."

However, regarding the charge that A molested by sitting on the female student's thigh, the court said, "It is acknowledged that he pretended to sit and then got up, but this alone is insufficient to conclude that the defendant molested the victim. There is no objective evidence," and acquitted him of this charge.

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