Teacher sexually harassed five schoolgirls, police say

By Kang Aa-young

Korea Times file

Police have arrested a male middle school teacher in Gwangju on charges of sexually harassing and beating his students.

The teacher, 54, is suspected of having molested girls and beaten boys at the school from last July until September, according to Gwangju Bukbu police station Tuesday.

The suspect allegedly tried to chastise a girl who wore red lipstick by touching her lips and feeling her hair and ears. He also is accused of punishing boys by physically abusing them.

Five girls and two boys reported the alleged incidents to police.

The teacher told police he had only tried to educate the boys using harsh methods. He said he had never sexually harassed the girls.

“We investigated all the students in the school and found an additional nine students who were allegedly victimized by the teacher,” a police spokesman said.

“But because the nine have not been identified, we will send the suspect’s case to prosecutors with charges for offences against the seven students for now.”