South Korean court upholds suspension for Army captain over sexual harassment

A South Korean court has upheld a three-month suspension for an Army captain found guilty of sexually harassing and verbally abusing a female subordinate. The Busan District Court dismissed a lawsuit filed by the captain, who sought to overturn the disciplinary action taken by the commander of the 53rd Infantry Division.

According to court records, the captain repeatedly questioned a female lieutenant about her private life, including her activities with her boyfriend and whether she stayed at her official residence or elsewhere. The captain also engaged in unwanted physical contact, such as attempting to fix her uniform zipper and adjusting her shoulder insignia despite her refusals.

Furthermore, the captain used profanity during work duties and made sexually derogatory remarks, including asking the victim if she was on her menstrual cycle after she mentioned feeling unwell. While the captain denied the allegations and argued the punishment was excessive, the court ruled that the victim's testimony was highly specific and corroborated by colleagues, concluding that the disciplinary measures were necessary to protect human rights and maintain military discipline.