Latest news with #ChuncheonDistrictCourt
News18
5 hours ago
- News18
Workplace Prank Backfires As Woman Fined $2,000 For Pulling Down Male Colleague's Pants
Last Updated: A woman in South Korea has been subjected to a hefty fine after a court ruled that pulling down her male colleague's pants in front of others amounted to sexual misconduct. A woman in South Korea has been ordered to pay a fine of 2.8 million won (around $2,000) after a court found her guilty of sexual misconduct over what was intended as a prank. The incident took place in Gangwon province, where she pulled down a male colleague's trousers—and, unintentionally, his underwear—in front of others. The court ruled that the act, regardless of intent, crossed the line into inappropriate and offensive behaviour, highlighting the importance of maintaining personal boundaries in the workplace. As reported by The Korea Herald, the Chuncheon District Court on June 7 not only imposed a fine of approximately $2,000 on the woman but also ordered her to undergo eight hours of sexual violence prevention education. The ruling emphasised accountability and the need for awareness around inappropriate behaviour in professional settings. The Chuncheon District Court rejected the woman's defence that the act was merely a harmless joke, the publication stated. The prosecution argued that the so-called prank resulted in sexual humiliation for the victim and pressed charges of indecent act by compulsion. Agreeing with the prosecution, the court reportedly ruled the behaviour as unacceptable and ordered the woman to pay a fine and undergo eight hours of sexual violence prevention education. However, while delivering the sentence, the court also considered mitigating factors—including the woman's lack of a prior criminal record, her genuine remorse, and her heartfelt apology to both the victim and his parents, which she made while kneeling. What Took Place During The 'Prank'? The incident took place on October 3, 2024, at a restaurant where both individuals were employed. In front of several coworkers, a woman in her 50s suddenly pulled down the pants of a male colleague in his 20s, intending it as a prank. However, in the process, she unintentionally pulled down his underwear as well, exposing him in front of others. What may have been meant as a joke quickly escalated into a case of public embarrassment and legal consequences. The Pantsing Prank: What Is It? Pantsing is the act of pulling down someone's trousers—often in a public or group setting—with the intent to embarrass or provoke laughter. Though sometimes dismissed as a joke, it is increasingly recognised as a form of bullying or harassment, particularly when done without consent. In a notable 2019 case, South Korean Olympic short track speed skating champion Lim Hyo-jun faced a one-year ban from competition after pantsing a teammate, underscoring the serious consequences such actions can carry.
Hindustan Times
9 hours ago
- Hindustan Times
Woman fined $2,000 for pulling down male colleague's pants in front of team members
A woman in South Korea has been fined 2.8 million won (or $2,000 approximately) for a 'pantsing' prank on a male colleague. A court in the country Gangwon province ruled that her act of pulling down the colleague's trousers, and accidentally his underwear, constituted sexual misconduct. According to a report in The Korea Herald, the Chuncheon District Court on Saturday ordered the woman to complete eight hours of sexual violence prevention education in addition to the $2,000 fine. On October 3, 2024, the woman pulled down the pants of a male colleague in front of other coworkers. The incident occurred at the restaurant where they both worked. While pulling down his pants, she accidentally pulled down his underwear too. The woman is in her 50s, while the target of her prank is a man in his 20s. A judge in Chuncheon District Court, South Korea, dismissed the defendant's claim that the act was meant to be a joke. The prosecution alleged that the woman's 'prank' caused sexual humiliation and filed charges of indecent act by compulsion. Siding with the prosecution, the court then ordered her to pay a fine and complete eight hours of sexual violence prevention education. While passing the sentence, the court took into account the fact that the woman had no prior criminal record, showed remorse over her actions, and apologised to the victim and his parents while kneeling. Pantsing refers to the act of pulling down someone's trousers as a prank, usually in a public setting. It's often done to embarrass the person and has been called a form of bullying. In 2019, South Korean Olympic short track speed skating champion Lim Hyo-jun was banned from competition for a year after pulling down a team member's trousers. (Also read: Indian man's blunt job post triggers debate on toxic work culture: 'You won't survive')
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Yahoo
South Korean woman fined for pulling down male colleague's trousers
A South Korean court has fined a woman for sexual misconduct after she pulled down a colleague's trousers - and his underwear, by accident - in front of their colleagues, local media reported. On top of the 2.8 million won ($2,100; £1,500) fine, the woman in her 50s has also been ordered to complete eight hours of sexual violence prevention education. The incident reportedly happened last October at a restaurant kitchen in Gangwon province in the north-east. The Chuncheon District Court's ruling on Saturday rejected the woman's claim that she had intended it to be a prank on her colleague, who is in his 20s. But the court said it was taking into account the fact that she had no prior criminal record and had shown remorse. She had knelt down to apologise to the man and his parents, the judge said. "It seems like they punished a simple prank too harshly," says one comment under the Chosun Daily's report of the case. But another reader argues, "The fine is not excessive at all. Why are you playing this kind of prank? Does this look like a prank to you?" Pulling down someone's trousers, which could include underwear - "pantsing" or "debagging" as it's known - is often seen as a common practical joke despite criticism that it is a form of bullying. Pantsing has long been used as a comic routine on variety shows and reality TV in South Korea. But it has got people in trouble as well. In 2019, South Korean Olympic short track speed skating champion Lim Hyo-jun was suspended for a year after he pulled down a male teammate's trousers in front of other female skaters. And in 2021, a group of elementary school students in North Jeolla Province were investigated for bullying a younger boy at a playground, after the victim's mother told police that they had pulled her son's pants down.
Korea Herald
18-05-2025
- Korea Herald
Driver who changed 3 lanes at once, causing crash, gets jail term
A suspended prison term for the 72-year-old driver, accused of hit-and-run and fleeing the scene of an accident, has been upheld by the appellate division of the Chuncheon District Court. The court said Sunday it ruled against the defendant's appeal and retained the initial sentence of 18 months in prison, suspended for three years. The defendant was found guilty of aggravated hit-and-run, stipulated in Article 5-3 of the Act on Aggravated Punishment for Specific Crimes, and failing to take appropriate measures after causing an accident as defined by the Road Traffic Act. The defendant was driving a compact vehicle on the freeway in Siheung, Gyeonggi Province, on Feb. 18, when he moved from lane 5 to lane 2 at once. The abrupt maneuver caused a sedan in lane 2 to collide with a van in lane 1, in an attempt to evade collision with the defendant's car. The driver of the sedan and a 2-year-old child inside the car were hurt, and the car was totaled. The driver and passengers inside the van were also injured. The defendant claimed not to be at fault, as he had signaled the lane change; the court said that simply turning on the signal light did not justify his reckless driving. "Changing lanes without sufficiently considering the road situation violates the obligation (of a driver), which states that one should not change lanes if it interferes with the normal operation of other cars," the court said in its ruling. On the defendant's claim of not being aware of the crash, the court pointed out that the black box footage on the car clearly picked up the noise from the crash, which would have been enough to alert the defendant. minsikyoon@
Korea Herald
18-05-2025
- Korea Herald
Driver who changed 3 lanes at once, causing crash, gets jail term
A suspended prison term for the 72-year-old driver, accused of hit-and-run and fleeing the scene of an accident, has been upheld by the appellate division of the Chuncheon District Court. The court said Sunday it ruled against the defendant's appeal and retained the initial sentence of 18 months in prison, suspended for three years. The defendant was found guilty of aggravated hit-and-run, stipulated in Article 5-3 of the Act on Aggravated Punishment for Specific Crimes, and failing to take appropriate measures after causing an accident as defined by the Road Traffic Act. The defendant was driving a compact vehicle on the freeway in Siheung, Gyeonggi Province, on Feb. 18, when he moved from lane 5 to lane 2 at once. The abrupt maneuver caused a sedan in lane 2 to collide with a van in lane 1, in an attempt to evade collision with the defendant's car. The driver of the sedan and a 2-year-old child inside the car were hurt, and the car was totaled. The driver and passengers inside the van were also injured. The defendant claimed not to be at fault, as he had signaled the lane change; the court said that simply turning on the signal light did not justify his reckless driving. "Changing lanes without sufficiently considering the road situation violates the obligation (of a driver), which states that one should not change lanes if it interferes with the normal operation of other cars," the court said in its ruling. On the defendant's claim of not being aware of the crash, the court pointed out that the black box footage on the car clearly picked up the noise from the crash, which would have been enough to alert the defendant.
