A file picture shows a female nude model being escorted by police. [Yonhap News Photo]
SEOUL -- A female model was indicted Friday on charges of taking pictures of a male colleague secretly during a college nude sketch class and leaking them through Womad, an online community of radical feminists.
Prosecutors said charges were brought against a 25-year-old woman identified by her family name, Ahn, who was among four nude models working for Hongik University's fine arts college in Seoul. A set of photographs showing the model's face and genitalia were uploaded onto Womad's community site on May 1.
The original post was deleted a day later, but screenshots and comments were shared through other online communities and online messengers, fanning public anger and calls for legal punishment. Police arrested the woman on May 10.
Ahn, who claimed to be a former Womad member, was accused of taking pictures with her smartphone after wrangling with the male model over the use of a resting place. If convicted, she could be jailed for up to five years.
The male model who became the target of sexual mockery has sued two Womad members. Colleagues said he could not sleep and eat because of an emotional shock and fears that his family or friends may see his nude pictures. Womad, an active community known for female chauvinism and misandry, faced widespread criticism as many people think the group's action went far beyond the boundary of an online satire.
reporter
Lim Chang-won
cwlim34@ajunews.com
