By Lee Hyo-sik
Nearly half of highway toll collectors, who are mostly middle-aged women, were found to have been sexually harassed by motorists.
Citing a survey of 1,700 toll collectors nationwide, Rep. Kim Gi-hyeon of the Grand National Party said Monday that 49.8 percent, or 846, suffered sexual harassment at least once.
The survey found 49 percent of the sexually harassed had unwanted physical contact with motorists, while 27 percent saw drivers expose their body parts. About 15 percent complained about motorists soliciting contact numbers from them, with 9 percent hearing disparaging remarks about their appearance.
Around 63 percent said they were sexually harassed more than twice, with 17 percent being subject to various sexual bullying on over five occasions.
``Toll collectors play an important role in operating expressways. To discourage motorists from sexually harassing collectors, Korea Express Corp. needs to install surveillance cameras and penalize those engaging in harassment,’’ Rep. Kim said. He also said drivers should undergo educational training aimed at curbing sexual harassment toward collectors and fellow drivers.
When asked about how to cope with harassment, 70 percent of toll booth workers said they just silently endure it.
About 72 percent said motorists’ disrespecting remarks and behavior are the most difficult thing to deal with, while 19 percent complained about their poor working conditions.
More than 90 percent of those who sexually harass toll collectors were men in their 40s and 50s, the survey found.
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