Man gets suspended sentence for indecent act at jjimjilbang

A man in his 30s who committed an indecent act at a jjimjilbang, or Korean sauna, while sniffing the feet of a sleeping customer has received a suspended prison sentence.

The Namyangju Branch of Uijeongbu District Court's Criminal Division 1, presided over by Judge Ha Seok-chan, sentenced the defendant, identified only as A, to six months in prison, suspended for two years, on charges of public indecency.

The court also ordered A to complete 40 hours of sexual violence treatment lectures and barred him from working at institutions serving children, adolescents and people with disabilities for three years.

A was indicted after allegedly committing the act at a jjimjilbang in Namyangju, Gyeonggi Province, at around 6:30 a.m. on May 24, while sniffing the feet of a customer who was asleep.

Investigators found that he had acted on sexual impulses after spotting the sleeping customer in a cave-like resting area inside the facility.

The court found the nature of the offense to be serious. "This crime is one that can cause sexual humiliation and discomfort to an unspecified number of people," the court said, adding that A had committed the act despite having previously received a fine for a similar offense.

However, the court said it took into account that "the defendant admitted to the offense and pledged not to reoffend, and has no prior record of punishment beyond a fine" in determining the sentence.