A Seoul court has ruled in favor of a police officer who was dismissed from his job over lewd videos he filmed off duty.

The Seoul Administrative Court recently struck down the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency’s decision to fire an officer over filming and exchanging videos of himself performing sexual acts, sources close to law enforcement said on Monday.

The officer, who was appointed as a probationary constable in 2016, was found to have sent a pornographic video he filmed at home to someone he met through social media after details emerged during an investigation into a webcam blackmail case involving the recipient. 

The Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency fired the man for failing to maintain his reputation, prompting the officer to file a lawsuit against the agency over what he described as unfair dismissal.

He also filmed another lewd video while wearing a uniform in the men’s room at a police substation while waiting for his shift.

The court said filming and sending lewd videos are not a criminal act and that the act took place at his home which makes it a private matter and does not warrant criticism.

The court added it took into consideration the officer’s remorse and a petition from his colleagues calling for the withdrawal of his dismissal in making the decision.

By Yim Hyun-su (hyunsu@heraldcorp.com)