Lee Min-hyung joined The Korea Times in 2014 and has worked as a journalist mainly in Korea’s finance, tech and automotive industry. He specializes in content creation, breaking news and in-depth analysis currently on transportation and mobility. You can reach him via mhlee@koreatimes.co.kr.
Right to know or classified info leak? Gov't, lawmaker clash over Moon-Trump 'secrets'
Moon-Trump telephone talk leaked
By Lee Min-hyung
Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-wha
By Lee Min-hyung
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has come under fire once again for an ethical lapse among its staff after a diplomat leaked information from a telephone conversation between President Moon Jae-in and U.S. President Donald Trump.
Cheong Wa Dae and the ministry are considering legal action against the 54-year-old diplomat for allegedly leaking the confidential information to Rep. Khang Hyo-shang, a lawmaker from the main opposition Liberty Korea Party (LKP).
The diplomat, working at the South Korean Embassy in Washington, D.C., is suspected of sharing some key details of the Moon-Trump phone conversation with his high school alumni Khang, the day after the two leaders held talks.
The presidential office said the diplomat admitted to the incident.
“The telephone conversations between leaders of two countries are identified and categorized as the third-highest level of state diplomatic secrecy,” a senior presidential aide told reporters in a briefing, Thursday.
The aide said the latest leak had little to do with public interest disclosure, but it could have a negative influence on the security of the Korean Peninsula.
The ministry declined to comment on the controversy, citing the ongoing investigation.
With the controversy making headlines nationwide, criticism is mounting over lax security management inside the embassy.
With the information obtained, Khang held a press conference on May 9. He claimed Moon suggested Trump visit Seoul sometime later this month after his visit to Japan. At that time, the presidential house denied the claim.