'Diplomat Sexual Harassment Allegation' Case, Song Young-gil: "There Are Cultural Differences... New Zealand's Demands Are Excessive"

Diplomat A, accused of sexual harassment while working in New Zealand, returned on the 17th... 14 days after Ministry of Foreign Affairs reinstatement
Justice Party criticizes Song's remarks as "utterly pathetic"

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Cheol-young] Song Young-gil, a member of the Democratic Party and chairman of the National Assembly's Foreign Affairs and Unification Committee, expressed the opinion that the New Zealand government's demand for the extradition of diplomat A, who is embroiled in a sexual harassment allegation involving a local male employee, is excessive, citing cultural differences in the diplomatic issue.

On the 19th, Song appeared on MBC Radio's 'Kim Jong-bae's Focus' and said, "Among close friends, men sometimes lightly tap each other's stomachs or buttocks," adding, "I think there is a cultural difference. New Zealand is quite open to homosexuality." He further stated, "(The victim) is a male employee about 180 cm tall and of that build," and added, "From that man's perspective, it could have been unpleasant."

Regarding the New Zealand government's demand for the extradition of diplomat A, who is accused of sexual harassment, Song evaluated it as excessive. He said, "I think it's an overreaction."

Following Song's remarks, the Justice Party raised strong criticism, calling them "utterly pathetic." Justice Party spokesperson Jo Hye-min stated in a commentary, "Whether the other party is of the opposite or same sex, sexual harassment is simply sexual harassment," and criticized, "To mention cultural differences itself is an act of condoning sexual harassment and contributes to creating a society insensitive to sexual violence."

Regarding the New Zealand government's demand for the extradition of diplomat A, they also emphasized, "Since the victim's nationality is irrelevant, the Korean government must actively cooperate with the sexual harassment allegations."

Diplomat A, who is accused of sexual harassment, left the Philippines, where he had been working until recently, and arrived in Korea on the 17th. This came 14 days after the Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a recall order on the 3rd, following the sexual harassment case being highlighted again by New Zealand local media and mentioned during a phone call between the two countries' leaders.

Diplomat A will undergo two weeks of self-quarantine and then work at headquarters without a position. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs plans to take follow-up measures regarding diplomat A. However, since disciplinary action has already been taken through an internal audit, they are very cautious about conducting an additional investigation.

The New Zealand government has demanded a direct investigation, alleging that diplomat A sexually harassed a local male employee while working at the New Zealand embassy in December 2017. Diplomat A left New Zealand in February 2018 after his term expired, and the issue was revealed in a 2019 internal audit, resulting in a one-month pay cut in February 2019.

The New Zealand national victim reported the case to the New Zealand police in October 2019, and the New Zealand police requested investigative cooperation from the Korean government. In response, the Korean government conveyed its position to cooperate with the investigation to the fullest extent possible within the scope of not waiving diplomatic immunity for embassy staff in New Zealand. However, the New Zealand side has expressed dissatisfaction with the matter through local media and during the leaders' phone call.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has stated that it will respond if the New Zealand side officially requests investigative cooperation through formal judicial procedures such as the Criminal Justice Mutual Assistance Treaty and the Extradition Treaty. However, it is known that New Zealand has not yet made an official request.

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