BEIJING — The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of South Korea is set to initiate an on-site investigation into allegations of power abuse by the South Korean ambassador to China, Chung Jae-ho. The probe will focus on claims that Chung mistreated a staff member at the Beijing embassy.
According to Yonhap News Agency, the investigation team will arrive in Beijing this weekend and spend two weeks examining the details of the accusations against Chung. The ambassador is specifically accused of verbally harassing an embassy official and displaying arrogance and authoritarian behavior, known as "gapjil" in Korean.
In a previous statement to the press in China, Chung described the media's coverage of the allegations as stemming from "one-sided claims" and stated his intention to withhold further comments while the investigation is ongoing. Despite the controversy, Chung has continued to perform his official duties, including leading weekly meetings. However, he canceled the regular monthly press briefing scheduled for April 1. Chung, who previously served as a professor at Seoul National University, assumed his role as ambassador to Beijing in June 2022, marking him as the first envoy to China under President Yoon Suk Yeol's administration.