Lee Hae-rin is a City Desk reporter at The Korea Times, covering social issues, tourism and taekwondo. She is passionate about speaking up for the rights of minorities, including women, LGBTQ+, people with disabilities and animals as well as discovering the latest makgeolli trend in town. Feel free to reach her at lhr@koreatimes.co.kr.
UAE official under investigation over sexual harassment allegation
Logo of Prosecution Service / Yonhap
By Lee Hae-rin
By Lee Hae-rin
A government official from the United Arab Emirates is under investigation being accused of sexually harassing a Korean national.
According to the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA), Wednesday, the Emirati national, who was assisting the Emirati Minister of Health and Prevention during a global health summit held in Seoul last month, is alleged to have sexually harassed a Korean woman who assisted him during the event.
The summit was the Global Health Security Agenda (GHSA), a three-day event held between Nov. 28 and 30. Cabinet ministers, vice ministers and government officials from 27 countries, 10 international organizations and delegations from 20 countries attended to discuss international joint responses to future pandemics.
On the last day of the three-day event, Nov. 30, the Emirati assistant allegedly groped parts of her body intentionally while pretending to put his arm around her shoulders as a friendly gesture.
The KDCA, which organized the event jointly with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Health and Welfare, immediately requested a police investigation on the day of the incident, the KDCA said.
The Emirati national is facing a travel ban as the investigation is underway at the Seoul Western District Prosecutors' Office.