Application of International Law

Over eight years ago my husband (21 at the time) was an exchange student in Korea and stayed with a Korean family who had two children (Boy 9, Girl 6). He learned to love those kids like they were his younger siblings. He told me that he remembers them jumping on him often like he was a human playground.

Today, he received a call from the children's dad (over eight years later) who told him that the daughter (now 15) was very disturbed. She apparently remembers a time when she felt sexually harassed by my husband. My husband was shocked at this accusation, especially since he's remained friends with this family over the years and nothing has come up.

He told me he can vaguely think of one situation when the daughter came into his room very early to wake him up. When he did not wake up, she laid down next to him on the floor and fell asleep. Eventually, when he woke up she was still asleep next to him. He then cuddled her like he would cuddle our own daughter and he kissed her a couple of times on the cheek in order to wake her up. As we are a very touchy family, I'm guessing culturally this wasn't acceptable.

His innocent actions must have been misunderstood by a child as it still affects her years later. He was disgusted when I asked if he touched her private parts in any way. But I had to ask. This is something he did NOT and would NOT ever do.

I'm not sure if it'll come to this, but can this Korean dad or daughter file a law suit against my husband? If so, is it filed in Korea? Can my husband be punished for this alleged situation here in the US? How do international laws apply in this case?

Trying to be objective, since we, too, are naturally affectionate---to find a little girl of any age in your bed (that you are not related to) and actually kissing her to wake her up would be cause for concern. What you are describing is an intimate gesture, such as between close family members, not someone who simply stayed with you for a while. I am not saying he is guilty of anything I am just letting you know that it doesn't sound as reasonable to everyone else as it does to you.
In order for him to be charged, they would have to do so here and come here to this country. The charges are serious (or the suggestion he did something wrong, even if it is not a charge as of yet) and I would hire an attorney immediately.

And, on a practical note---most people who are child molesters do not admit they are when confronted. Again, I am not saying he IS a child molester---just letting you know that being reassured simply because he SAID he didn't do it doesn't make a lot of sense.

Good luck.