New Zealand Sexual Assault Victim Requests Mediation Resumption from Ministry of Foreign Affairs... Ministry Reviewing Resumption Possibility

Victims Claim Insufficient Testimony Opportunities During Internal Audit
Ministry of Foreign Affairs: "Requested Detailed Written Submission from Victims at the Time... Victims' Claims Differ from Facts"

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Cheol-young] It has been confirmed that a local male employee who claimed to have been sexually harassed by diplomat Mr. A, who worked at the Embassy of the Republic of Korea in New Zealand, has requested the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to resume mediation talks.

An official from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs told reporters on the 20th, "Earlier this month, we received a request to resume mediation from the local victim," adding, "The decision on whether to resume will be made by the responsible department."

The local victim alleged that he was sexually harassed by diplomat Mr. A in December 2017 and raised the issue with the Korean Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the National Human Rights Commission. Subsequently, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs conducted an audit on the matter and in February 2019, disciplined diplomat Mr. A with a one-month salary reduction.

However, the local victim continued to raise the issue by filing a sexual harassment report with the New Zealand police in October 2019, and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs conducted private mediation for four months in the first half of this year at the victim's request. The mediation was conducted between the Embassy of the Republic of Korea in New Zealand and the victim according to local law, but due to significant differences in positions, it ended in failure. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs official stated, "We have recently conveyed to the victim twice that we are reviewing whether to resume mediation."

Regarding a media report claiming that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs did not provide the victim with sufficient opportunities to testify during its own audit process, the Ministry denied the allegation. The official explained, "We specifically requested written submissions for the investigation, and although the victim submitted signed documents, there were no specific mentions," adding, "It is not true that the victim was not given any opportunity to speak."

Meanwhile, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated that it plans to take appropriate measures as soon as it officially receives notification regarding the National Human Rights Commission's acceptance of the victim's complaint.

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