"Please Discipline the Official Who Mocked Me Saying 'You Look Like a Vietnamese Woman'"

Criminal Complaint Filed for Defamation Charge

Daejeon District Court Cheonan Branch Photo by Yonhap News

[Asia Economy Intern Reporter Kim Bong-ju] A petition has been posted on the Blue House National Petition Board alleging that a court official insulted a complainant by saying they "look like a Vietnamese woman."

Mr. A posted on the National Petition Board on the 28th around 5 p.m., recounting his experience at the Civil Affairs Office of the Cheonan Branch of Daejeon District Court while applying for a name change, urging punishment for the official involved. Mr. A is also proceeding with a criminal complaint for defamation through a lawyer.

On that day, he visited the court with his wife and their 9-month-old daughter to change his wife's name. Mr. A stated, "Officer Song, wearing a mask, glanced at my wife's face and said, 'Your wife looks like a foreigner.'"

He continued, "We were taken aback and replied, 'No, she doesn't,' but the official said, 'Is that so? She looks like a Vietnamese woman,' then chuckled to himself for about a minute and sneered," explaining the situation at the time.

When asked, "Why are you laughing?" the official responded, "It's something I can laugh about, so why?"

Mr. A wrote that when he said, "Why are you speaking so rudely?" the official retorted, "I said it because she looks like a Vietnamese woman, so why?"

Mr. A and his wife, who is seven months pregnant, felt deeply humiliated. Despite being told, "Why are you speaking so rudely?" the official insisted, "Because she looks like a Vietnamese woman," and never apologized.

Mr. A expressed anger at both his wife's being ignored and the official's remarks.

He said, "This could constitute defamation, and I asked for an immediate apology to avoid escalating the issue, but he loudly shouted again, 'I said your wife looks like a Vietnamese woman, didn't I?'" He added, "'If I'm funny, I can laugh. Who are you to tell me not to laugh?'"

At the time, there were 4 to 5 officials in the Civil Affairs Office who tried to restrain the official, but to no avail.

Mr. A said he was so shocked that he could not even apply for the name change and returned home.

He lamented, "I doubt whether such an official can properly handle civil complaints," and added, "I hope other complainants do not suffer the same harm we experienced."

A court official stated, "Since many multicultural families come to change their names, it seems the official said something unnecessary," and added, "We will verify the facts and review disciplinary measures."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.