In our criminal law system, rape and forcible sexual abuse are distinguished, and forcible sexual abuse and public obscenity are also different. Forcible sexual abuse is forcing undesired sexual behavior by one person upon another with force or threat. Nowadays, among some cases the meaning of force is interpreted willfully, so that even though one cannot see forcible sexual abuse, it seems to be the case. So it is advisable that the meaning of force is interpreted narrowly.
There is no the offence of sexual abuse in public in our criminal law, but in special law(the Special Act of Sexual Assault) there is an offence of sexual abuse in public. But it is not good way to treat this problem, so it is advisable that the offence of sexual abuse without force should be introduced into the Criminal Act.
In the Criminal Act even though sexual abuse and public obscenity is distinguished, the meaning of abuse similar to that of obscenity. To this a case said that the meaning of abuse is harm to one’s sexual determination, and obscenity is harm to public sexual morale.

• 이경재(충북대학교 법학전문대학원 교수, 법학박사) | LEE, KYUNG JAE