"Who Would Harass a Girl Who Smells Bad..." 50-Year-Old Pastor Given Probation for Sexual Harassment of Students

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Daehyun] A pastor in his 50s who was accused of making inappropriate remarks, including sexual harassment, to adolescent students at a church has been sentenced to a fine with a suspended sentence.

On the 22nd, according to the legal community, Judge Im Gwangho of the Seoul Central District Court Criminal Division 20 recently sentenced Pastor A (51, male), who was indicted for violating the Child Welfare Act (sexual harassment), to a fine of 2 million won with a one-year suspended sentence. He was also ordered to complete 40 hours of a sexual violence treatment program.

Earlier, Pastor A was brought to trial on charges including making a remark during a religious class at a church in Jung-gu, Seoul, in 2017, where he referred to the movie "Perfume" and said, "Who would want to eat a girl who smells bad?" to about 20 students aged 16 to 17.

In court, Pastor A's side denied the charges, stating, "He did not make the said remarks." They also argued that even if similar words were spoken, the intention was to convey the lesson of "becoming a person who carries a beautiful fragrance."

The court stated, "Three witnesses testified that they were shocked and felt insulted by the defendant's remarks, and that the word 'eat' was all understood as a euphemism for sexual intercourse," adding, "This constitutes abusive behavior causing sexual shame to children, amounting to sexual violence and cruel acts."

Regarding the claim that the remarks were meant to convey a lesson, the court pointed out, "The excessive vulgarity and sexual objectification in the remarks exceeded the discretion allowed in the class, swallowing both good intentions and the lesson."

However, Pastor A was also indicted for making a remark in the same class to students majoring in practical music, saying, "People who perform in room salons earn more money," but he was acquitted of this charge.

The court explained, "This remark appears to have been made in the process of conveying the lesson to become musicians who pursue true value rather than money," and added, "Although it was an inappropriate remark that could cause misunderstanding, it is difficult to consider it as abusive behavior that harms the mental health of children."

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