"Taxi Collision" U.S. Diplomat Sends Official Letter to Police Claiming "Diplomatic Immunity"

Yongsan Police Station, Seoul / Photo by Yonhap News

[Asia Economy Reporter Jeong Dong-hoon] The U.S. diplomat stationed in Korea, who fled the scene after causing a taxi collision, has sent an official letter to the police stating that they will not waive diplomatic immunity. The police are expected to dismiss the case due to lack of prosecutorial jurisdiction.

According to the police on the 17th, the Yongsan Police Station in Seoul received an official letter through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs from the U.S. Embassy in Korea on the 14th of this month, stating the intention not to waive diplomatic immunity.

The diplomat had previously sent an official letter to the police agreeing to an investigation in written form. The police plan to file charges against the diplomat for violating the Road Traffic Act (failure to take action after an accident) but will dismiss the case due to lack of prosecutorial jurisdiction.

The diplomat under investigation is accused of causing a collision with a taxi while changing lanes near Namsan Tunnel No. 3 around 5:35 p.m. on November 10 of last year, then continuing to drive to the Yongsan U.S. military base and fleeing the scene. At the time, the police who responded to the 112 emergency call confirmed the diplomat’s vehicle license plate at the scene and attempted to verify identity, but the diplomat refused to open the window and declined all investigations, including a breathalyzer test. There were three passengers in the diplomat’s vehicle at the time.

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