Sexual Misconduct Issues in Public Service Under Scrutiny
Disciplinary Cases for Sexual Misconduct Increased Over 5 Times in Last 5 Years
Experts Say "Awareness Improvement Needed for High-Ranking Officials"
President Moon Jae-in is having a phone conversation with New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern at the Blue House on the 28th. / Photo by Yonhap News
[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Juhyung] As it became known that the leaders of South Korea and New Zealand had a phone conversation regarding allegations that a South Korean diplomat sexually harassed a local employee while stationed in New Zealand in 2017, the issue of sexual misconduct within the civil service is expected to come under renewed scrutiny.
Previously, Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-wha announced the introduction of a zero-tolerance policy toward sexual misconduct by diplomats, but recent incidents of disciplinary actions related to sexual harassment and sexual violence within the Ministry of Foreign Affairs continue to occur, indicating that sexual misconduct remains an ongoing problem. It has also been confirmed that sexual misconduct cases among all civil servants have steadily increased over the past five years.
Experts advise that the public sector needs to reconsider its approach to handling sexual misconduct issues and simultaneously work on improving the awareness of public officials.
Earlier, Blue House spokesperson Kang Min-seok stated in a written briefing on the 28th that President Moon Jae-in had a 30-minute phone call at the request of New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern, during which they discussed various international issues including cooperation measures against the novel coronavirus.
It was also reported that during the call, the two leaders discussed the allegations that a South Korean diplomat sexually harassed a local employee while serving in New Zealand. However, spokesperson Kang did not disclose the specific details of their conversation.
The allegations surfaced on the 25th when New Zealand broadcaster 'NewsHub' reported that a South Korean diplomat, referred to as Mr. A, was accused of sexually harassing a local male employee while working at the South Korean Embassy in New Zealand at the end of 2017.
According to the broadcast, Mr. A is suspected of sexually harassing the male employee three times, including touching his body parts. However, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs conducted an internal investigation after Mr. A returned to Korea in 2018, imposed a one-month salary reduction, and closed the case internally.
On the 25th (local time), New Zealand broadcaster NewsHub reported allegations of sexual harassment by diplomat Mr. A, who was working at the South Korean Embassy in New Zealand in 2017, against a local staff member. / Photo by Broadcast screen capture
During the Ministry of Foreign Affairs' internal investigation, Mr. A admitted in a written statement submitted to the embassy that "while joking, I tapped the employee's body parts once or twice," acknowledging physical contact but denied the allegations by stating, "There was no intent to sexually harass."
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated that it is communicating with New Zealand authorities regarding these allegations. Ministry spokesperson Kim In-cheol said at a regular briefing held at the Ministry's building in Jongno-gu, Seoul, on the 28th, "We are in communication with the New Zealand side, and I understand that New Zealand has also stated they will continue to communicate with the Korean government," emphasizing, "The Ministry of Foreign Affairs is not protecting any individual by citing diplomatic immunity."
However, the political sphere criticized the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for its lukewarm response, suggesting it may have exacerbated the situation.
Song Gap-seok, spokesperson for the Democratic Party of Korea, issued a written statement on the 29th, saying, "This is a serious matter that damages the national dignity as it is an unsavory incident that occurred at a diplomatic mission representing the Republic of Korea," and urged, "It should be taken more seriously, with strong follow-up measures including punishment of those responsible and establishment of discipline among staff."
Hwang Kyu-hwan, deputy spokesperson for the United Future Party, also criticized strongly in a statement released the same day, saying, "The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, which has repeatedly tried to hush up sexual harassment incidents and thereby invited criticism, has now only brought international public embarrassment by trying to cover up this case as well," adding, "The shame of the nation's fallen dignity is solely borne by the people."
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has previously faced difficulties over sexual misconduct by diplomats. Last July, a diplomat stationed at the South Korean Embassy in Pakistan was disciplined with a three-month suspension for sexually harassing a subordinate employee under the pretext of giving mangoes.
In 2018, a diplomat working at the South Korean Embassy in Cambodia was suspended from duty last year after it was revealed that he had engaged in inappropriate physical contact and remarks toward a local employee.
According to data titled 'Disciplinary Status of Ministry of Foreign Affairs Employees' received by Kim Ki-hyun, a member of the United Future Party, from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the cumulative number of sexual misconduct disciplinary cases involving ministry employees since 2000 reached 110. Notably, since the inauguration of the Moon Jae-in administration in 2017, the cumulative number of disciplinary cases was 62, accounting for more than half of the total.
Minister Kang had emphasized the eradication of sexual misconduct from the beginning of her tenure in 2017 and announced the introduction of a 'one-strike-out system' that prohibits reappointment or reassignment as head of mission regardless of the severity of the sexual misconduct disciplinary action.
However, despite the Ministry of Foreign Affairs' efforts to eradicate sexual misconduct, sexual scandal cases involving diplomats have continued to occur, leading some to criticize the public sector for being insensitive to sexual violence and sexual harassment.
Sexual misconduct is also a serious issue across the entire public sector. According to data received by Ryu Ho-jeong, a member of the Justice Party, from the Ministry of Personnel Management on the 23rd, the number of national public officials disciplined for sexual misconduct increased more than fivefold from 177 cases in 2015 to 1,049 last year.
Experts suggest that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs should reconsider its approach to handling sexual misconduct by overseas diplomats and that awareness improvement among senior public officials is necessary.
Seo Hye-jin, Human Rights Director of the Korean Women Lawyers Association, said in an interview on KBS's 'Kim Kyung-rae's Strong Current Affairs' on the 30th, "The Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated in 2017 that it would strictly apply a zero-tolerance one-strike policy to resolve sexual misconduct cases, but the fact that such cases have continued is problematic," adding, "Various factors are intertwined in why these issues occur, but I believe the root cause is the lax discipline among senior public officials."
She continued, "Whenever such incidents arise, it is necessary to review how the Ministry of Foreign Affairs responded and whether the zero-tolerance policy was truly applied," emphasizing, "Most importantly, there must be an improvement in the awareness of senior public officials regarding sexual misconduct issues."
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