"If you're having a hard time, come to my house"—Teacher who hugged student and kissed the student's forehead receives suspended sentence

[Financial News] A teacher indicted for allegedly molesting a student at the school where he worked has received a suspended prison sentence.
Yonhap News Agency reported on the 3rd that Kim Ji-yeong, a judge at the Jeju District Court, recently sentenced former teacher A to one year in prison, suspended for two years. The defendant had been indicted without detention for violating the Act on Special Cases Concerning the Punishment, etc. of Child Abuse Crimes.
The court also ordered him to complete 40 hours each of a sexual-violence treatment program and a child-abuse recidivism-prevention program, and imposed a three-year ban on employment at institutions related to children, adolescents, or persons with disabilities.
Teacher A was indicted for allegedly sexually abusing a student between June and July 2024, while working as a teacher at a high school in Jeju Province. The alleged acts included hugging the student and kissing the student's forehead at his home and at school.
Investigators found that when the student asked to discuss personal concerns, he told the student, "If you're having a hard time, you can come to my house," and had the student come to his home.
The court stated, "The defendant, who was legally obligated to report child abuse, forgot his duty and instead sexually abused the victim. His culpability is serious, and he deserves substantial condemnation." It added, "The abuse appears likely to have negatively affected the victim's personality development, mental health, and formation of sexual values, and the defendant has not yet been forgiven by the victim or the victim's parents."
In explaining the sentencing, the court said it had taken into account that the defendant had deposited compensation with the court for the victim, had no prior convictions, and appeared to have worked diligently as a teacher.
[email protected] Ahn Ga-eul Reporter