Palm-stroking handshake may be harassment, but it's not assault: court

The Ulsan District Court said Monday it had acquitted the head of an Ulsan-based company of committing an indecent act against a female employee by stroking her palm several times during a handshake. The man was charged under Article 298 of the Criminal Act over the March 2025 incident. During their first meeting, the man allegedly stroked the woman’s palm several times while shaking her hand and then enclosed her hand with both of his hands. The court said the conduct appeared sexual in nature