Lee orders probe into Korean Red Cross chief over reported racial remarks

Kim Chul-soo, president of the Korean Red Cross, speaks during a ceremony at the relief group's headquarters in Seoul, Jan. 7. Yonhap

President Lee Jae Myung on Friday ordered the health ministry to conduct an investigation into the chair of the Korean Red Cross for his alleged racist comments about foreign ambassadors in 2023.

Earlier, a local media outlet reported that Kim Chul-soo, president of the Republic of Korea National Red Cross, referred to the dark skin color of the ambassadors and said they were "nothing special" after hosting an event with envoys and their spouses from seven countries, including Angola, India and Sri Lanka.

"President Lee sternly rebuked the behavior as he issued the order," presidential spokesperson Kim Nam-jun told reporters in a notice.

Lee also stressed that discrimination or hatred based on race, ethnicity, nationality or region constitutes a serious antisocial act that undermines the national community, according to the spokesperson.