1/ A top ranking male S. Korean diplomat is currently wanted by New Zealand police accused of sexually assaulting a male staff at the S. Korean embassy there in 2017. Arrest warrant was issued on February 28 2020 for the former Deputy Ambassador, but S. Korea has refused to help. 
2/ The S. Korean diplomat was exposed by New Zealand media earlier this year as having been charged with indecent assault against a staff member at the S. Korean embassy in Wellington.
He is now Consul General in the S. Korean embassy in the Philippines.
nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/articl…
He is now Consul General in the S. Korean embassy in the Philippines.
nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/articl…
3/ Sexual assault allegations against the S. Korean diplomat are:
- squeezing the victim's buttock
- grabbing the victim's groin area
- grabbing the victim's nipple and chest
Under New Zealand law, indecent assault carries up to 7 years in prison for every charge.
- squeezing the victim's buttock
- grabbing the victim's groin area
- grabbing the victim's nipple and chest
Under New Zealand law, indecent assault carries up to 7 years in prison for every charge.
4/ The victim complained, and internal investigation took place at the embassy. Was still harassed by the top diplomat, and kept working for the alleged offender.
The allegations apparently only surfaced after an internal audit by MOFA in October 2018.
The allegations apparently only surfaced after an internal audit by MOFA in October 2018.
5/ S. Korea's Foreign Ministry said it took immediate steps to investigate allegations, "done in a way which ensured that the staff member was listened to and supported", spending "a great deal of time and effort ensuring that the staff member is safe and adequately supported".
6/ The diplomat was disciplined by the Korean MOFA.
The discipline, which I have directly seen and was recommended by MOFA's Sexual Harassment Review Committee, was a 1-month pay cut - ie an admission of sexual harassment.
The discipline, which I have directly seen and was recommended by MOFA's Sexual Harassment Review Committee, was a 1-month pay cut - ie an admission of sexual harassment.
7/ According to sources, the victim was never actually listened to and asked to give his side of the story. In short, the internal investigation was quickly and quietly dealt with. So the victim turned to local police. But diplomat had already left country for new posting.
8/ "Court documents show they [SK gov] stonewalled police, refusing to allow a scene examination, declining Police access to CCTV, failing to release their investigation, and refusing to waive diplomatic immunity so staff could be interviewed by police." newshub.co.nz/home/shows/202…
9/ The diplomat has never sat down with New Zealand detectives. An internal S. Korean Embassy document says he said "there was absolutely no intention on my part to engage in sexual harassment", acknowledging "tapping" the victim on the bottom as a "joke".
10/ He says he remembers "giving his belly a couple of taps", not grabbing the victim's groin.
And he does recall "knocking his chest with both hands", but "did not grope him as he alleged".
And he does recall "knocking his chest with both hands", but "did not grope him as he alleged".
11/ The diplomat allegedly told a S. Korean media outlet Newstown:
"How can I sexually harass a white men who is stronger than I am if I'm not a homosexual or a pervert?" newstown.co.kr/news/articleVi…
"How can I sexually harass a white men who is stronger than I am if I'm not a homosexual or a pervert?" newstown.co.kr/news/articleVi…
12/ Meanwhile, the complainant says he has not been provided with any support. According to sources, he was diagnosed with PTSD, still suffering, but will see no justice because the diplomat is immune and the S. Korean government has no responsibility to turn him in.
13/ Meanwhile, S. Korean Ambassador Sang-jin Lee issued a statement to New Zealand media Newshub Nation, saying the diplomat has the right to be presumed innocent until proven guilty and that S. Korea respects New Zealand law. newshub.co.nz/home/shows/202…
14/ The Ambassador also said that the decision as to whether the diplomat returns to New Zealand to face the charges is a matter for himself to decide, leaving New Zealand police powerless.
15/ This isn't a story about whether the diplomat is gay or not. Sexual assault can happen between any gender. New Zealand police & law recognise this. No proper investigation was allowed, and we now have a situation where a powerful S. Korean man is being shielded by the SK gov.
16/ Statements and selected correspondence can be found in this thread:
The report by @ConorWhittenTV about a S. Korean diplomat charged with indecent assault in New Zealand has now hit the Korean news cycle.
Yonhap: "The S. Korean government protects diplomat accused of sexual harassment, says New Zealand broadcaster".
yna.co.kr/view/AKR202007…
Yonhap: "The S. Korean government protects diplomat accused of sexual harassment, says New Zealand broadcaster".
yna.co.kr/view/AKR202007…
Plenty of Korean coverage now. This news was already covered in May but didn't make much noise.
Now with allegations of sexual harassment by late Seoul Mayor, and the government keeping quiet about it, I don't think people will let this one go so quickly.
Now with allegations of sexual harassment by late Seoul Mayor, and the government keeping quiet about it, I don't think people will let this one go so quickly.
Update: President Moon had a phone call last night with New Zealand PM Jacinda Ardern, discussed the allegations of sexual harassment by a top South Korean diplomat when the latter was stationed in Wellington. Details of call not disclosed.
news.joins.com/article/238357…
news.joins.com/article/238357…
Chosun Ilbo: "As the call lasted for 30 minutes at the request of Prime Minister Ardern, it is also possible that the PM expressed regret and asked for cooperation in investigating the case." news.chosun.com/site/data/html…
Just thought I'd point out that this has been an issue since May, but it was quickly brushed under the carpet back then. Then Mayor of Seoul Park Won-soon killed himself amid allegations of sexual harassment, and now the NZ case is a diplomatic issue.
Pres Moon allegedly told NZ PM Jacinda Ardern that he'd look back into the facts relating the allegations of sexual harassment by a top ranking diplomat on a staff member at the S. Korean embassy in NZ.
"The New Zealand government has expressed its disappointment that the Korean government did not cooperate with earlier requests from New Zealand Police in respect of this case," a spox at New Zealand's Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade told Yonhap. en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN202007…
