Exclusive: Drunk golfer who groped caddie twice ordered to pay W10m in damages

A golfer who sexually assaulted a caddie twice at a golf course tee box has been ordered to pay her 10 million won ($7,420) in damages. He was also found guilty of indecent assault in a separate criminal trial and received a suspended prison sentence.

The Changwon District Court's civil division, presided over by Judge Park Ji-yeon, issued the ruling last month in a damages suit the victim filed against the golfer, identified only as A. The victim had sought 30 million won in compensation, but the court awarded 10 million won.

The incident occurred around June 2024. While waiting for his turn at the No. 1 hole tee box, A suddenly grabbed the caddie's buttocks. When the startled caddie stepped aside, he groped her again, this time touching her stomach as well. She told him to stop touching her and contacted the operations office. With the help of another staff member, she was able to leave the scene.

A was indicted on charges of indecent assault, and his conviction was upheld through the courts. Following rulings in the first and second instances, the Supreme Court in August finalized a sentence of six months in prison, suspended for two years.

According to facts established by the court, A and his companions had been drinking at the time. When an operations staff member arrived, they made remarks that amounted to secondary victimization — telling the crying caddie to "understand," demanding she be replaced immediately, and suggesting the matter would be resolved simply by swapping out the caddie.

Throughout the investigation and trial, A denied the charges. When questioned by police, he said he could not remember the details clearly, but added that "honestly, there could have been some ordinary touching." He also said that "even if there was touching, it was not done with any sexual intent."

The criminal court cited as a common sentencing factor that A had committed an indecent act against the victim, whom he encountered as a golf course customer and caddie, making the nature of the offense serious. It also noted that the victim had not forgiven him and that no effort had been made to remedy the harm. The court did, however, take into account in his favor that he had no prior convictions for similar offenses.

The victim filed a civil damages suit against A, and the civil court found him liable, ordering him to pay her 10 million won.

The first-instance civil court said it had considered the relationship between A and the victim, the location and circumstances of the assault, the body parts touched and the degree of the act, and the fact that A denied the offense throughout the related criminal proceedings and made no effort whatsoever to remedy the harm.

The ruling was finalized Oct. 1. Neither A nor the victim appealed.

Hwang Seong-hyeon, a lawyer who has represented numerous caddie victims of assault and sex crimes, said the punishment and damages awarded were "disappointing given that the perpetrator maintained excuses to the very end."

He added that caddies face structural vulnerability that exposes them to sexual harassment and assault by some golfers, given the nature of their work. "When a caddie is replaced at a customer's request, she risks losing income or facing disadvantages from the golf course, making it difficult to speak up," he said. "Golf courses need to put in place real victim-protection measures and pursue systemic reform."