Parents of a middle school student who sexually harassed a female student are awarded 18 million won in compensation.

(Cheongju = Yonhap News) Reporter Seongmin Lee = A court ruling was made on behalf of a middle school student who forcibly molested and sexually harassed a female student in his class for several months in the classroom, ordering the parents to compensate the victim about 18 million won.

According to the legal community on the 5th, Chief Judge Ju-hyeon Lee of the Civil Division 6 of the Cheongju District Court ruled in favor of the plaintiff in a lawsuit claiming 35 million won in damages filed by the victim against the parents of student A, saying, "The defendants must compensate the plaintiff about 18 million won."

From March to May of last year, middle school student A sent sexual messages to classmate B through social networking services (SNS), saying things like “I want to touch your body parts” and “become a sex slave.”

Additionally, during this period, he forcibly touched Ms. B's body parts several times in the classroom and hallways.

Because of this, Ms. B was diagnosed with depression and received psychiatric treatment.

Chief Judge Lee ruled, "The defendants had a duty to protect and supervise Mr. A, including proper sex education, and continued to provide him with daily guidance and advice. However, they were negligent in neglecting this duty. Since this negligence became the cause of the tort, the defendants, as tortfeasors, are responsible for compensating the damages suffered by the plaintiff."

He then ordered, “Taking into account various circumstances, including the circumstances leading up to this incident, the content of the sexual messages, and the manner in which the forcible molestation took place, it is appropriate to set the alimony at 12 million won,” adding, “The defendants must also compensate Ms. B for up to 6.7 million won in psychiatric treatment expenses.”