Cheongju District Court acquits executive in workplace harassment case

The Cheongju District Court has upheld the acquittal of a company executive accused of sexual harassment during a workplace welcome party in December 2022. The defendant was charged with sexual harassment through the use of professional authority after allegedly forcing a subordinate to participate in a ‘love shot’ and putting an arm around her at a karaoke venue.

The appellate court ruled that the actions did not constitute sexual harassment, noting that there was no evidence of physical contact with sensitive body parts or excessive bodily closeness. The court observed that other attendees were also engaging in similar behavior, such as putting arms around one another, and did not perceive the actions as sexual or coercive.

Regarding the ‘love shot’ allegation, the court stated that simply suggesting the act or extending an arm cannot be definitively interpreted as an intent to commit sexual harassment or an exercise of illegal power, especially given the conflicting testimonies regarding who initiated the physical contact.