Approached Again After Being Stopped by Police
"Does a Law Only Come Into Effect When Something Happens?"
Netizens' outrage is growing as a story spreads about a troublesome customer who offered money in exchange for a meeting with a female convenience store part-timer in her 20s.
JTBC's 'Incident Manager' reported on the 14th the story of a female informant in her 20s, Ms. A. She works part-time at a convenience store in a busy district of Chungbuk and is currently preparing to join the coast guard.
Ms. A said that on the 6th, while working at the convenience store, she encountered an absurd customer. He was a middle-aged man who appeared to be about her father's age, and he bluntly said to her, "Let's eat and have fun," "I like talking with younger people," and "I can give you about 1.2 to 1.5 million won per month."
A troublesome customer who demanded a meeting in exchange for money from a part-time worker about the age of his daughter. JTBC broadcast capture
Ms. A said, "When I told him he seemed to be about my father's age, he replied, 'That doesn't matter' and told me to 'take money'."
When Ms. A pointed out, "Don't you know that this is wrong behavior?" the customer responded, "It's not wrong," but also excused himself by saying, "If you think it's bad, then there's nothing I can do."
Feeling fearful of the persistent customer, Ms. A informed the convenience store owner of the situation and pressed the 'emergency call button' to summon the police. However, according to the police, the customer's actions did not constitute sexual harassment. Phrases like "Let's eat" and "Let's have fun" were not considered direct harassment.
After this incident, the customer reportedly visited the convenience store again. Ms. A said, "He said, 'I came yesterday but you weren't here, so I was disappointed,' and 'I am a high-ranking and trustworthy person,'" adding that he persistently demanded a meeting, explaining, "Women usually defend themselves a lot, but he said it was because he was thoughtful."
Subsequently, the police sternly warned the customer not to approach the informant again. Ms. A told the media, "It seems he lives near the convenience store," and expressed, "I am anxious about running into him. It feels like laws only come into effect after something happens, but if crimes like this cannot be prevented, shouldn't the law be changed?"
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