Revealing the personal information of a person convicted of sexual harassment does not violate his or her basic constitutional rights, Korea’s Constitutional Court said Tuesday.

The court struck down a lawsuit filed by two people who claimed that a clause which states that providing personal information of someone convicted of the offense to the public infringes upon one’s privacy. The plaintiffs had been convicted of sexual harassment and were to have their personal information opened to the public.

In a majority decision of 7-to-2, the court confirmed the validity of the clause. “The cited clause is considered an appropriate measure to accomplish a just cause,” the court said in its ruling. “Although it goes against a person’s interests in a minimal way, a significant amount of public benefits can be gained from it.”

The two justices who opposed the decision said the clause was unconstitutional because even offenders who are considered highly unlikely to commit another crime are subject to disclosure of personal information.

(minsikyoon@heraldcorp.com)