Yoon Gun-young: "New Zealand Raises Issues Through Media... Crossing Diplomatic Lines"

Kang Kyung-hwa: "Apology to the Opposing Country Is Not a Matter to Decide Easily"

Yoon Geon-young, a member of the Democratic Party of Korea, is attending the Post-Corona and Korea Full Change Forum held at the National Assembly Members' Office Building on June 16. [Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Heo Midam] On the 27th, Yoon Geon-young, a member of the Democratic Party of Korea, pointed out the controversy over the sexual harassment of a New Zealand staff member by a Korean diplomat, stating, "The New Zealand government is raising the issue through the media without making a request according to international judicial cooperation procedures. This crosses the diplomatic line."

In a post on his Facebook on the same day, Representative Yoon said, "Our government has conveyed its willingness to fully comply if New Zealand makes a request according to international judicial cooperation procedures."

He continued, "It is also diplomatically rude that the New Zealand government is making excessive demands regarding the 'diplomatic premises inviolability' agreement, which is guaranteed by all countries worldwide as an international custom," adding, "Suddenly raising an unconsulted agenda in diplomacy between heads of state is clearly a diplomatic discourtesy. This goes beyond the ABCs of diplomacy."

He defended Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-hwa's refusal to apologize to the New Zealand victim side, saying, "Currently, 'private mediation' with the victim is underway, and the local police are investigating the matter. It is the responsible attitude of a minister to respond with comprehensive measures, including appropriate actions, sanctions, and prevention of recurrence, after reviewing the results."

Earlier, on the 25th, Minister Kang appeared at the National Assembly Foreign Affairs and Unification Committee plenary session and expressed an apology to President Moon Jae-in and the public, but refused to apologize to New Zealand, stating, "An apology to the other country (as the Foreign Minister) is not a matter to be decided lightly."

Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-wha is reporting on her duties at the National Assembly Foreign Affairs and Unification Committee plenary meeting on the 25th.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

Meanwhile, diplomat A is accused of sexually harassing local staff three times while working at the Korean Embassy in New Zealand at the end of 2017. A admitted to the contact but denied the allegations, claiming there was no intent of sexual harassment.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs conducted an internal audit on this matter and in February 2019 disciplined A with a one-month pay cut for sexual misconduct responsibility.

However, the victim continued to raise the issue, including reporting it to the New Zealand police in October 2019. Later, on the 28th of last month, New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern mentioned this case during a summit call with President Moon Jae-in, causing diplomatic tensions.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs conducted mediation negotiations for about four months from early this year at the victim's request. The mediation was conducted under New Zealand law between the employer, the Korean Embassy in New Zealand, and the employee, the victim. However, it is reported that the talks broke down due to significant differences in positions regarding the victim's compensation demands.

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