By Yi Whan-woo
Korean Ambassador to Ethiopia Kim Moon-hwan is suspected of sexually abusing a female embassy staffer, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said Wednesday.
It said Kim is also accused of sexually harassing several volunteers at Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA), an aid organization under the ministry's wing.
The ministry will send a team of internal inspectors to Ethiopia, Thursday, after investigating the cases on its own.
The revelation comes after a series of sexual offenses committed by diplomats over the past few years and a call for Kang Kyung-wha, the country's first female foreign minister, to better protect the increased number of female officers.
The ministry said the victim testified against Kim during an internal inspection last week in Seoul of her superior who she said raped her after having a dinner and wine with her in Ethiopia, July 8.
"The victim testified that Kim sexually assaulted her, which she found very offensive, in addition to her statements about the case involving her superior," a ministry official said.
The ministry questioned Kim, who was on leave in Seoul last week, but allowed him to return to Ethiopia as he denied all allegations against him.
The ministry has been looking into the case involving KOICA volunteers after receiving tip offs that Kim sexually harassed them while drinking together.
Kim denied such allegations as well.
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| Kim Moon-hwan |
It said Kim is also accused of sexually harassing several volunteers at Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA), an aid organization under the ministry's wing.
The ministry will send a team of internal inspectors to Ethiopia, Thursday, after investigating the cases on its own.
The revelation comes after a series of sexual offenses committed by diplomats over the past few years and a call for Kang Kyung-wha, the country's first female foreign minister, to better protect the increased number of female officers.
The ministry said the victim testified against Kim during an internal inspection last week in Seoul of her superior who she said raped her after having a dinner and wine with her in Ethiopia, July 8.
"The victim testified that Kim sexually assaulted her, which she found very offensive, in addition to her statements about the case involving her superior," a ministry official said.
The ministry questioned Kim, who was on leave in Seoul last week, but allowed him to return to Ethiopia as he denied all allegations against him.
The ministry has been looking into the case involving KOICA volunteers after receiving tip offs that Kim sexually harassed them while drinking together.
Kim denied such allegations as well.
