By Kim Rahn
Staff Reporter
An appellate court gave the ``not guilty'' verdict to a father who had touched his 11-year-old stepdaughter's breasts, saying it was a ``sign of affection.''
Kim, 43, was married in 1996. He became the stepfather of his wife's daughter, whom he treated as his own child. He had often showed her affection through touching, which the girl did not used to consider as unpleasant.
Last March, Kim returned home one night after drinking and found his wife and daughter asleep. Kim put his leg on his stepdaughter's body and touched her hips and breasts under her pajama top.
Kim's wife reported him to the police. During investigation, the police also found that Kim had physically abused his wife during a quarrel in 2006 by throwing a flowerpot at her and kicking her.
The police arrested him for sexual harassment and spousal abuse, and he was sentenced to an 8 month prison term for sexual assault by a local court.
However, the Seoul High Court only acknowledged the domestic abuse. He was given a two-year suspended jail term and 160 hours of community service. It ruled: ``Kim's act was a rather excessive sign of affection spurred by alcohol.''
The court made this decision based on the fact that the girl had not reached puberty yet and previously had not felt uncomfortable about such acts as sleeping next to her and touching her hips.
Regarding the ruling, a member of a women's group said that although the stepfather and stepdaughter were close, it is very doubtful whether the touching can be seen as a sign of affection.
``Sexual harassment toward children aged under 13 is more severely punished. The prosecution should appeal to the Supreme Court and prove that he is guilty,'' she said.