Korean envoy to Ethiopia accused of harassing staff
Prosecutors are investigating allegations that Korea’s ambassador to Ethiopia sexually harassed several embassy employees and volunteers.
The Seoul Central District Prosecutors’ Office is reviewing a complaint filed by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs against Ambassador Kim Moon-hwan, according to prosecutors and ministry officials.
Kim is suspected of touching a female embassy employee while taking her home. He previously denied the allegations and said he had once “tapped her on the shoulder” which she “may have taken the wrong way.”
However a special in-house investigation by the ministry was met with a string of reports testifying that Kim had drinks with young female volunteers in an “improper manner.” The volunteers were part of the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA), a foreign aid organization under the ministry.
The ministry filed a complaint to the prosecutors’ office after concluding there were “multiple victims” of “one public official.”
This is the first time an incumbent ambassador has faced a sexual assault charge. Kim has reportedly returned to Seoul.
A 26 year-old Korean male surnamed Kim currently working in Ethiopia expressed frustration with the embassy and the officials in question. “They are such an embarrassment to the community here, and they really messed things up,” he said. “And I feel really bad for the victim. The perpetrator only got what he deserved but she didn’t even get to experience her career or anything.”
The case surfaced during an investigation of a different sexual assault case involving another diplomat in Ethiopia. The victim of the case testified against Kim in addition to her perpetrator who had allegedly raped her after having dinner and drinks with her.
A series of sexual offenses by Korean diplomats overseas have been revealed in the last few years. In many of these cases the officials abused their power over lower-ranking employees. According to the ministry, 40 such cases have been reported, of which 10 needed an internal investigation.