[2020 National Audit] Embassy Staff in Nigeria Accused of Sexual Harassment of Local Resident... Ministry of Foreign Affairs Resigned Without Disciplinary Action

[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Cheol-young] A Korean staff member working at the Embassy of the Republic of Korea in Nigeria was involved in a sexual harassment incident against a local, but there was criticism that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs took no disciplinary action.

According to Lee Tae-gyu, a member of the National Assembly's Foreign Affairs and Unification Committee from the People’s Party, a Korean administrative staff member, Mr. A, at the Embassy in Nigeria was involved in a sexual harassment incident against a local in August, but he resigned voluntarily in September without receiving any disciplinary action from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

The victim reported the incident to the embassy’s sexual grievance officer through a third party, and it was also reported to Ambassador Lee In-tae, the ambassador to Nigeria. However, it is understood that Ambassador Lee did not hold a personnel committee meeting nor report the incident to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Lee Tae-gyu’s office stated that the ambassador explained he judged it as a matter that could be handled at his discretion because he had gathered opinions from the staff.

Assemblyman Lee Tae-gyu said, "The ambassador’s action violates the minister’s directive emphasizing a zero-tolerance policy on sexual misconduct cases," and added, "It is inappropriate to allow the resignation without any measures despite the possibility of the issue escalating into a diplomatic problem, as in the New Zealand diplomat sexual harassment case."

In response, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs reportedly explained that since the issue was caused by an administrative staff member, not a diplomat, it was handled according to the embassy’s internal regulations.

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