Ulsan Court Acquits Executive of Forced Molestation in Handshake Case

On March 3, the Ulsan District Court, presided over by Judge Lee Jae‑wook, ruled that a company executive (identified as A) was not guilty of forced molestation after he scratched the palm of a female employee (B) and stroked the back of her hand during a handshake. The court acknowledged that the conduct could be perceived as sexual harassment, noting the employee’s discomfort, but determined it lacked the coercive or violent intent required for a forced‑molestation conviction. A had apologized to B after the incident, and the judgment clarified the legal distinction between sexual harassment and forced molestation under Korean law. The court stated, “From B’s perspective it was very unpleasant and could be seen as sexual harassment, but there was no evidence of a prolonged or particularly unusual handshake that would constitute forced molestation.”