[Asia Economy Reporter Jeong Dong-hoon] The police have launched an investigation into Soma Hirohisa, the Minister-Counselor of the Embassy of Japan in Korea, who caused controversy by using sexual expressions targeting President Moon Jae-in.
According to the police on the 28th, the National Investigation Headquarters of the National Police Agency assigned the case against Minister-Counselor Soma to the Anti-Corruption and Public Crime Investigation Unit of the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency the day before. Earlier, a civic group filed a complaint with the police, requesting punishment for Soma on charges of insult and defamation.
Minister-Counselor Soma sparked a stir after it was reported that he said in an interview with a media outlet on the 15th, "President Moon is masturbating." Subsequently, Aiboshi Koichi, Ambassador of Japan to Korea, explained, "It is true that such expressions were used during the conversation, but they were never remarks directed at President Moon Jae-in," adding, "I heard that Minister-Counselor Soma told the reporter present that the remarks were inappropriate and retracted them."
However, Minister-Counselor Soma is protected by diplomatic immunity, and even if the charges are acknowledged, prosecution may be difficult unless the foreign ministry of the respective country waives the immunity. Under the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations, diplomats of each country are granted immunity.
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