Korean Diplomat Accused of Sexual Harassment in New Zealand Returns Home Today (17th)

Philip Turner, New Zealand Ambassador to Korea, is leaving the Ministry of Foreign Affairs building after meeting with the Ministry regarding the sexual harassment issue involving a diplomat who worked at the New Zealand Embassy in Korea on the afternoon of the 3rd. / Photo by Yonhap News

[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Juhyung] Korean diplomat A, accused of sexually harassing a local employee while working in New Zealand, reportedly returned to Korea from the Philippines on the 17th.

According to 'Yonhap News' on the 17th, A arrived in Korea that day. This came 14 days after the Ministry of Foreign Affairs immediately ordered his return on the 3rd as a "personnel measure due to various controversies."

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs reportedly allowed A's return by the 17th, considering the necessary time for moving preparations amid the COVID-19 situation. Upon returning, A plans to undergo a two-week self-quarantine in accordance with quarantine regulations.

The Ministry plans to decide on follow-up measures against A after the self-quarantine period. However, since disciplinary action against A was already taken through the Ministry's internal audit, re-investigation will be carefully reviewed in consideration of the principle of ne bis in idem.

Previously, the New Zealand government demanded a direct investigation of A, alleging that he sexually harassed a local employee while working at the New Zealand Embassy in December 2017.

A left New Zealand in February 2018, and after the issue surfaced during the Ministry of Foreign Affairs' audit, he was disciplined with a one-month pay cut in February last year.

However, the victim reported the case to the New Zealand police in October last year, and subsequently, New Zealand judicial authorities issued an arrest warrant for A and requested investigative cooperation from the Korean government.

The government intends to cooperate with the investigation within the scope that does not waive the diplomatic immunity of embassy staff. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated that it will respond if New Zealand authorities request investigative cooperation through official judicial procedures between the two countries, such as the Mutual Legal Assistance Agreement and the Extradition Treaty.

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