Ruling Party Council Member Fined for Sexual Harassment

Yang Woo-sik, a provincial councilor for South Korea's ruling People Power Party, has been ordered to pay a fine of 500,000 won (approximately $370) after being convicted in a lower court of sexually harassing a subordinate.

“

The defendant's remarks are an insult that belittles the victim by sexualizing her.

The Suwon District Court found Yang guilty of insult, ruling that his comments demeaned the victim by sexualizing her. "The defendant's remarks are an insult that belittles the victim by sexualizing her," the court stated. It added that even if Yang intended his remarks as a joke, his intent was malicious, as he was aware that such behavior could harm the victim's dignity.

The court also determined that the remarks were "public" because a colleague overheard them. It noted that the individuals involved were colleagues, not in a relationship requiring confidentiality, making the inappropriate comments easily spreadable within the workplace. The court emphasized that remarks disguised as jokes do not negate their illegality.

“

And that the defendant's intention was malicious, even if he intended to make a sexually suggestive joke.

In determining the sentence, the court considered Yang's actions as impulsive, his multiple apologies, and his lack of a prior criminal record for similar offenses. The prosecution had initially sought a six-month prison sentence. Yang was accused of making sexually suggestive remarks to a female office worker in May of the previous year.

“

The court also determined that the remarks were 'public' because a colleague overheard them.