Soccer Player Son Junho Detained in China... Ministry of Foreign Affairs Requests "Prompt and Fair Investigation"

Ministry of Foreign Affairs "Additional Consular Meeting Scheduled"

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced on the 20th that it plans to conduct additional consular meetings soon with Son Junho (Shandong Taishan), a national soccer team player who is under detention and investigation by Chinese public security authorities.

Son Junho was detained last month on the 12th at Shanghai Hongqiao Airport while attempting to return to Korea. He has been held criminally on suspicion of bribery as a non-state actor (non-government official) and has been under investigation by the Chaoyang Public Security Bureau in Liaoning Province. Criminal detention refers to "temporary detention" under the decision and management of public security authorities. On the 17th, after the expiration of the criminal detention period, Chinese public security authorities switched to arrest and investigation.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

An official from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs told reporters on the same day, "Since Son has been detained by the Chinese side, local diplomatic staff have conducted three consular meetings," and added that additional consular meetings are planned. The official said, "We have confirmed that there have been no human rights violations during or after the detention process," and added, "We are communicating through the local diplomatic mission to ensure a prompt and fair investigation."

Meanwhile, the official also explained, "Regarding the results of the US-China foreign ministers' meeting, including Secretary Blinken's visit to China, the US side will provide a briefing to our side in an appropriate manner." The official also revealed the establishment of a diplomatic intelligence unit in the form of a task force (TF) that compiles diplomatic information collected from headquarters and diplomatic missions into separate reports to be shared with the Presidential Office. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs official explained the background of the establishment, saying, "The Ministry has been continuously striving to strengthen its functions of analysis and reporting on foreign relations and international affairs, which are among its core functions."

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