Foreign Minister Yun Byung-se reports pending issues at the National Assembly Foreign Affairs and Unification Committee on Thursday. / Yonhap



By Hong Dam-young

A South Korean ambassador to a Middle Eastern country has been disciplined for sexually harassing an embassy worker, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

The assault case was revealed at the National Assembly Foreign Affairs and Unification Committee on Thursday. Foreign Minister Yun Byung-se told lawmakers the ministry had recently taken action against the Middle East-based ambassador who was accused of sexually harassing an embassy worker.

The news came two days after the ministry summoned home a Korean diplomat for making inappropriate physical contact with teenagers while working at the Korean Embassy to Chile in September.

"I feel extremely sorry and ashamed for the recent assault case that I can't even show my face," Yun said at the committee.

"We are handling the case more seriously than ever."

The accused ambassador faced a salary cut as punishment early this month, the ministry said. The country he was based in was not identified.

Meanwhile, the ministry is expected to investigate the Chile diplomat soon. He was accused of various assaults, including raping a girl, 12, and harassing a Korean immigrant's Chilean wife.