Recent state of sexual harassment ruling

(1)The second trial of a man who pushed a woman on the top of her chest while trying to ride the subway is not sexual harassment.

(1)The Seoul Central District Court acquitted a man accused of forced molestation for touching the top of his chest while pushing a woman who was trying to get on the subway before getting off, saying it was not sexual harassment. This man was acquitted in the first trial.
(2)While getting off at a subway station in Gangnam, Seoul, in July 2021, A said, “Get off a woman in her 20s who tried to get on the subway before the passengers on the subway get off,” and pushed strongly between the woman’s left shoulder and chest. The woman who was pushed back reported Mr. A to the police.

(1)In response, the first trial acquitted Mr. A. The first trial said, “It is acknowledged that A deliberately pushed the woman hard using his hand, but it seems that he acted as a protest because he was angry at the woman’s behavior,” adding, “It is insufficient to admit the intention of harassment.”
(2)The appeals court also said that as soon as the subway stopped at the time, a woman tried to board even before people got off, and A, who was getting off, seemed to have pushed the woman for a moment.