China investigating assault on South Korean journalists
By Kim Rahn
BEIJING ― Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi has expressed sympathy for the seriousness of the violence involving South Korean photojournalists and Chinese security guards which took place Thursday during South Korean President Moon Jae-in’s state visit to the country, officials from Cheong Wa Dae and the Korean foreign ministry said, Friday.
Relevant Chinese authorities are investigating the case and would take necessary measures after finishing probe, they said.
According to the officials, South Korean Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-wha expressed strong regret to Wang over the incident at the summit between Moon and his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping, hours after the violence in which Chinese security guards roughed up South Korean photojournalists who were following Moon at a trade event.
“Wang then said he sympathized with the seriousness of the case,” a ministry official said.
“Kang requested Wang investigate the case thoroughly, punish the assaulters and others who are responsible, and take measures to prevent such things from recurring,” a Cheong Wa Dae official said.
Upon Kang’s request, the Chinese foreign ministry told the Korean ministry it is encouraging related organizations to investigate the case as soon as possible and it would take necessary steps afterward.
According to the Korean ministry official, a Chinese ministry official said, “On behalf of the Chinese ministry, I offer consolation to the injured journalists regardless of the exact account of the incident, and I hope they get well soon.”
Late Thursday evening, Moon directed National Security Office head Chung Eui-yong to visit the injured photojournalist from Maeil Business News who was hospitalized. No one from the Chinese side visited him except for police officers investigating the case, according to the Korean officials.
The Chinese ministry also said it may take some time to identify the assaulters, adding it is unclear whether they were Chinese police officers or private security guards hired by the Korea Trade-Investment Promotion Agency (KOTRA), the event organizer. “It said the violence was an ‘unfortunate incident that accidentally happened’ while the guards were taking security actions and the journalists were reporting,” the Korean ministry official said.
The Chinese police launched their investigation upon the Korean side’s request. Police officers interviewed the hospitalized photojournalist late Thursday night by visiting the hospital, and talked to another photojournalist from the Hankook Ilbo who was staying at a hotel after sustaining a minor back injury.
The two victims returned to Seoul Friday evening, a day earlier than their initial schedule, and received treatment at a hospital here.
On Thursday at the event, Chinese security guards prevented South Korean journalists from following Moon to a hall. While scuffling, they grabbed the Hankook Ilbo photographer by the collar and pushed him to the ground, surrounded and hit the Maeil Business News photographer, with one guard kicking his face while he was on the ground.
The firstr victim suffered a back injury, while the other sustained an orbital wall fracture in his face.