By Kim Rahn
Staff Reporter

The Supreme Court Tuesday upheld a lower court ruling that handed down a one million won fine to an elementary school headmaster for taking a photograph of a girl's thighs with his cell phone camera.

The 60-year-old, Lee, was indicted for photographing the thighs of a high schoolgirl, who was wearing a short skirt, on a bus one evening last October.

The girl claimed that Lee took out his mobile phone and took the photo of her legs after pretending he was going to take a photo of himself. She demanded he show her the photo, and he pushed her away.

Lee contended that she herself had exposed her legs and everybody could see them, claiming the thighs consequently were not ``body parts which may cause sexual desire or a sense of shame.'' According to law, those photographing such body parts against a person's will are subject to up to five years in prison and up to a 10 million won fine.

The court ruled, ``Photographing body parts is different from just looking at them. Although the victim exposed her thighs in a public place of her own free will, they are body parts that can cause a sense of shame, considering Lee took a picture of them at close range.''

The top court also said the verdict was made to protect people's right not to be photographed.

rahnita@koreatimes.co.kr