"Just Do It"…Sexual Harassment Remarks in High School Group Chat Ahead of Sports Day

School Authorities "Scheduled to Hold Student Guidance Committee Meeting"

At a high school, controversy has arisen after male third-year students made sexually harassing remarks toward underclassmen in a group chat while preparing for a sports day event.

On the 28th, KBS reported that inappropriate comments were posted in a student group chat at a high school in Dong-gu, Ulsan, ahead of the sports day. The school holds an annual dance event during the sports day in which the entire student body participates. First- and second-year students perform a so-called 'group dance,' while third-year students are known to gather and lead the other students.

However, a problem occurred in the group chat with about 140 members. During the process of deciding which song to dance to, one team suggested "let's dance sexy," which some female students opposed. Then, a third-year male student sent a message saying, "Just shake your XXX (butt), stop talking so much, you XXXs." When another student said, "It's so sexy that the teachers will be embarrassed," another third-year male student sarcastically replied, "How would they be embarrassed when there is no sexy person?"

As the controversy grew, the student who made the sexually harassing remark calling others 'gae-jip-XXX' posted an apology in the group chat. The student explained, "I thought it was a chat room only for third-year students and posted those words jokingly, but as soon as I realized it was a room with everyone, I immediately deleted it." He added, "I am truly sorry for disrupting the atmosphere." However, it is known that first- and second-year students are afraid of being disadvantaged and are hesitant to participate in the event. Some first- and second-year students have also expressed negative reactions to the practice itself, saying, "The apology itself was not sincere."

The school, recognizing the issue, stated, "We need to respond sensitively to sexual issues," and announced, "We plan to hold a student guidance committee meeting soon."

Netizens who learned of the news responded negatively, saying things like, "Is there still such forced talent shows?" "This should not happen in schools where students should learn proper values. The school should treat this as a serious matter," and "Talent shows should be something you voluntarily want to show others, not something forced."