"Human Rights Commission Recommends Appropriate Response and Improvement to Ministry of Foreign Affairs over Inadequate Handling Procedures of Sexual Misconduct Case in New Zealand"

Ministry of Foreign Affairs: "We Have Received the Recommendation and Will Carefully Review and Take Necessary Measures"

[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Cheol-young] The National Human Rights Commission has sent a recommendation for improvement to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs regarding the sexual misconduct case involving diplomat A, who is accused of sexually harassing a local male employee while working at the Embassy of the Republic of Korea in New Zealand.

According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on the 3rd, the Human Rights Commission confirmed that it sent the related decision documents to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs yesterday, including to the complainant victim and the accused diplomat A. A Ministry of Foreign Affairs official explained, "We received the recommendation from the Human Rights Commission on the 2nd and will carefully review the related contents and take necessary measures."

The decision document from the Human Rights Commission reportedly stated that it is difficult to see any procedural problems in handling the case, but noted some shortcomings. Regarding these shortcomings, it was conveyed that appropriate response measures should be taken along with revising or supplementing the related manuals. Additionally, it is known that the document includes contents related to relief measures and compensation for the victim concerning diplomat A.

Currently, diplomat A returned to Korea last month after receiving a recall order from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Although the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has announced plans for further investigation, no concrete progress has been reported yet.

Diplomat A, who is accused of sexual harassment, is suspected of having touched specific body parts of a New Zealand national male employee three times while working at the Korean Embassy in New Zealand at the end of 2017. After returning to Korea in 2018, the diplomat received a one-month salary reduction through an internal audit by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Subsequently, he was assigned as consul general to another Asian country and continues to work there.

The New Zealand government has demanded a direct investigation, stating that diplomat A allegedly sexually harassed a local male employee while working at the Embassy of the Republic of Korea in New Zealand in December 2017. Diplomat A left New Zealand in February 2018 after his term expired, and the issue was revealed during an internal audit in 2019, resulting in a one-month salary reduction on February 1, 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 government conveyed its position to cooperate with the investigation to the fullest extent possible within the scope of not waiving diplomatic immunity for the Embassy staff in New Zealand. However, the New Zealand side has expressed dissatisfaction about the matter through local media and official communications.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has stated that it will respond if New Zealand 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.

Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-wha is answering reporters' questions at a press conference held at the Government Seoul Office Annex on the morning of the 2nd. Photo by Kang Jin-hyung aymsdream@

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