"‘I was a pig before marriage’ - Principal who insulted female teacher, Vice Principal says, ‘He makes such jokes because he likes her’"

Middle School Principal Makes Insulting Remarks at Company Dinner
Prosecutorial Discretion Followed by 1 Million Won in Damages

The principal of a middle school in Chungnam publicly made insulting remarks about a female teacher and was ordered to pay damages.

On the 13th, the Civil Small Claims Division of the Seosan Branch of the Daejeon District Court (Chief Judge Kim Sujeong) announced that in a damages claim lawsuit filed by female teacher A against the principal B and vice principal C of the school where she worked, it ruled in favor of the plaintiff in part, ordering "B to pay A 1 million won."

B, who was the principal of a middle school in Chungnam, asked A in February 2020, when she said, "I have a pregnancy plan, so I may not be able to take on homeroom duties," "Are you that close with your husband? Did you already get pregnant?" Later in October of the same year, at a company dinner, B made remarks to A in front of other colleagues, saying, "How many kilograms difference is there before and after your marriage? You were a pig before you got married." When A immediately protested that this was sexual harassment, vice principal C, who was nearby, tried to smooth over the situation by saying, "The principal cares for and likes A, so he makes such jokes."

Daejeon District Court Seosan Branch Exterior [Image Source=Yonhap News]

The day after the dinner, A reported principal B to the school's sexual grievance committee for sexual harassment. Then vice principal C asked A, "The principal did not make the remarks with bad intentions, and the principal's retirement is not far off," and "The teaching community is small, so please just let it go." A suffered mental shock from this situation, was diagnosed with adjustment disorder, and shortly after applied for sick leave. In January 2021, she filed a relief application with the National Human Rights Commission (hereinafter 'the Commission'), stating that "the acts of B and C constitute sexual harassment," and also filed a criminal complaint against B for defamation.

In June 2021, the prosecution recognized that B's remarks at the dinner constituted defamation but, considering the circumstances and degree of insult, decided to suspend prosecution. A suspension of prosecution means that although the crime is acknowledged, considering mitigating circumstances, the punishment is waived after a certain period. The Commission also dismissed A's relief application in October of the same year, stating, "It is true that the remarks by B and C were inappropriate," but "they do not constitute sexual harassment or human rights violations such as attempts to cover up the incident."

Separately, A filed a civil lawsuit claiming 30 million won in damages each against B and C. In the complaint, A argued, "B, who was the principal, made sexually inappropriate remarks, and C, who was the vice principal, did not take protective measures for the victim after receiving the sexual harassment complaint and tried to cover up the incident."

The court recognized defamation only for B's remarks at the dinner and ruled that the compensation for damages should be 1 million won. However, regarding C, the court did not recognize liability for damages, stating, "There is insufficient evidence to acknowledge that C participated by neglecting the illegal act."

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