By Park Si-soo
Staff Reporter

The Supreme Court Monday turned down an appellate court's ruling that put on hold the import of vibrators, saying they don't challenge sexual morality or human dignity.

The court sent the case back to the appellate court for a review, with the final ruling expected late this month.

In 2007, an unidentified company importing penis-shaped vibrators filed the suit against the customs office at Incheon International Airport after the customs clearance for the imports was put on hold. The customs office has claimed the ``obscene'' products provoke sexual desires and undermine sexual morality and human dignity.

``The products are shaped like a penis. But it's different from real ones in size and detail so it's unacceptable that they apparently provoke sexual desires of lay people at a glance, humiliate people, and undermine human dignity,'' the top court said in a ruling statement.

A provincial court said the products are not obscene, citing the traditional practice of carving huge stones in the shape of a penis and installing them near gateways of villages, a shamanism belief that such sculptures would invite prosperity and many children. But the appellate court overturned the verdict.

A sex shop owner said most sex-support devices, including vibrators, are currently imported ``through unofficial channels,'' but refused to elaborate further.

pss@koreatimes.co.kr