'School Me Too' Former Yonghwa Girls' High School Teacher Sentenced to 1 Year 6 Months in Prison on Appeal (Comprehensive)

Yonghwa Girls' High School, Nowon-gu, Seoul

[Asia Economy reporters Seongpil Cho and Daehyun Kim] A former teacher who was charged with forcibly molesting female students at Yonghwa Girls' High School in Nowon-gu, Seoul, which sparked the school sexual violence accusation movement known as 'School Me Too,' was sentenced to prison again in the appellate court.

The Criminal Division 10 of the Seoul High Court (Presiding Judge Jaehee Lee) on the 15th sentenced Mr. Joo, who was tried for violating the Act on the Protection of Children and Juveniles from Sexual Abuse (forcible molestation), to 1 year and 6 months in prison, the same as the first trial, and ordered him to complete 40 hours of a sexual violence treatment program. The court stated, "The victims have testified specifically and consistently about the damage from the investigative agencies to this court," and pointed out, "Considering the defendant's method and circumstances of the molestation, the crime is serious." It added, "Although the victims suffered significant mental damage due to the defendant's crime, the defendant has not admitted this even up to this trial," and concluded, "The sentencing in the first trial cannot be seen as excessively harsh or lenient."

Earlier, Mr. Joo was prosecuted for forcibly touching parts of the bodies of five students from March 2011 to September of the following year in classrooms and the student guidance office at the school. Mr. Joo claimed innocence, arguing there was no intent to molest, but the first trial rejected this and sentenced him to prison. This case became known after graduates of Yonghwa Girls' High School formed the 'Committee to Eradicate Sexual Violence' in March 2018 and exposed the victimization. This served as a catalyst for over 100 schools nationwide to join the School Me Too movement.

One victim, immediately after the sentencing, stated through the 'Citizens' Group Supporting Nowon School Me Too,' "The defendant said he was reflecting in his final statement, but in reality, he has never indirectly or directly expressed an apology to the victims," adding, "I hope he remembers that his wrongdoing cannot be resolved by an apology." The victim also urged the judiciary and the Ministry of Education, saying, "We will be watching," and called for "proper recognition of the students and punishment of the perpetrators." Regarding the sentence being the same as the original trial, the victim expressed disappointment, saying, "It falls short of expectations," and added, "(The lack of increased sentence) means the defendant was not given an opportunity to reflect."

Meanwhile, Mr. Joo is currently involved in an administrative lawsuit against the Teacher's Appeal Committee separately from this case. Yonghwa Girls' High School dismissed Mr. Joo following the School Me Too movement. After his request to cancel the disciplinary action was dismissed by the Teacher's Appeal Committee, Mr. Joo filed a lawsuit. Having lost in the first trial, he submitted an appeal and is awaiting the second trial. The first hearing of the appeal trial is scheduled for the 25th of next month at the Administrative Division 6-3 of the Seoul High Court (Presiding Judge Seongwook Hong).

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