By Bae Ji-sook
Staff Reporter

Sexual harassment cases in subway cars during commuting hours have risen by 26 percent over the past year, according to Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency.

The incidents include male offenders trying to grope women or take pictures up their skirts.

A total of 345 cases were reported in the first half of this year. In April, when unusually high temperatures hit the nation, such offenses reached a high of 78 and since then, more than 50 cases have been reported each month, police said.

Most of the offenders said they did it out of curiosity.

The actual number of cases might be higher than the published data because many women are afraid of reporting the incidents, a police spokeswoman said.

bjs@koreatimes.co.kr