South Korea's foreign ministry confirmed Tuesday a diplomat based in Chile has been repatriated after he was caught on camera sexually harassing a minor. File Photo by Keizo Mori/UPI |
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SEOUL, Dec. 20 (UPI) -- A South Korean diplomat described as a "national disgrace" by his fellow citizens has been summoned back to his home country after a video caught him sexually harassing a teenage girl in Chile.
A Seoul foreign ministry official who spoke anonymously told Yonhap news agency the diplomat returned to Korea on Tuesday morning, two days after a Chilean broadcaster aired the hidden camera footage of the government official making unwanted sexual advances on a local minor.
Foreign ministry spokesman Cho June-hyuck said the diplomat had returned and was being investigated.
South Korean Ambassador to Chile Yu Ji-eun had issued an apology to the victims, their families and the people of Chile on Monday.
"I and the other diplomats at the South Korean embassy offer this sincere apology for causing serious harm and shock to the student victims, their families and the Chilean people due to this scandalous act," Yu stated in his apology.
The ambassador also said Seoul will conduct strict and rigorous measures in accordance with South Korean laws and regulations, and will work closely with the Chilean government during the investigation.
The diplomat suspected of initiating sexual harassment began engaging in inappropriate behavior when he taught a 13-year-old teenage girl Korean during a public diplomacy initiative that promotes South Korean popular culture.
The victim reported the incident and a local television station launched an undercover reporting project, using another girl to catch the diplomat engaging in misconduct, according to Yonhap.
The diplomat only identified by his surname Park began to initiate sexual advances, an act that was caught on camera.
Park allegedly begged the television crew to not air the video.
The program aired on Sunday on Chile's Canal 13 channel.
Korean commenters have condemned Park's behavior, calling for his "ostracism" because of disgraceful behavior, according to The Korea Times.
