Saturday Night's All Right for Sexually Harassing

Last night in Seoul, a girl out on a public street with one or more friends was accosted by two chaebol executives (chaebols = super-conglomerates, equivalent to the zaibatsu of Japan). The two execs had been drinking, and decided to try to lift the girl's skirt and take photos of the whole affair.

Police fortunately came upon the scene and stopped this, after it had gone on a little while. The police decided not to press charges against the older exec, because he and the young lady came to a settlement. No settlement was reached with the younger exec, who was charged. This is not the first example I've seen of sexual harassment treated lightly, but what struck me was how settlement between the criminal and the victim averted criminal sanctions. While the criminal justice system here also operates on this premise, I hear that this is pretty typical. Perhaps this is exceedingly naive of me, but isn't an action punished criminally because it affronts society, rather than as revenge for the victim?

Your thoughts or words of wisdom are, as always, welcome.

(with apologies to Elton John)