A court in South Korea has fined a woman 2.8 million won (approximately $2,000) for pulling down a male colleague’s trousers in what she described as a prank. The Chuncheon District Court in Gangwon province ruled on Saturday that her actions constituted sexual misconduct, rejecting her defense that it was meant as a joke.
The incident took place on October 3, 2024, at a restaurant where both individuals worked. The woman, who is in her 50s, pulled down the pants of a male colleague in his 20s in front of other staff, unintentionally exposing his underwear as well.
Court Rejects ‘Joke’ Defense
The court sided with the prosecution, which alleged that the prank caused “sexual humiliation” to the victim. Prosecutors filed charges of indecent act by compulsion against the woman.
The judge dismissed the woman’s claim that it was a harmless joke. Along with the fine, the court also ordered her to complete eight hours of sexual violence prevention education.
While announcing the sentence, the court acknowledged certain mitigating factors: the woman had no prior criminal record, expressed genuine remorse, and had apologised to both the victim and his parents, even kneeling during the apology.
What Is Pantsing?
“Pantsing” refers to the act of pulling down someone’s trousers in a public setting, often as a prank meant to embarrass the victim. However, it is widely recognised as a form of public humiliation and bullying. South Korea has dealt with similar incidents in the past notably in 2019, when Olympic short track speed skating champion Lim Hyo-jun was banned for a year after pantsing a teammate.