By Oh Young-jin
A Russian crewman of a car carrier was arrested on charges of forcibly hugging and kissing a Korean female welfare center worker, the maritime police in Ulsan was quoted as saying by Yonhap Monday. He appeared under alcoholic influence, the police said.
The Russian, 44, is suspected of having made the unwanted advance, while the woman was helping him connect his mobile phone to wireless internet at the center, the police said.
The Russian denied the charge. He was quoted as telling the police, “I kissed her as a token of my appreciation, and the charge is a misunderstanding stemming from cultural differences."
The police secured video footage from the center’s surveillance camera.
The sailor's behavior comes under the category of indecent assault in Russia, the police said.