Vietnamese deputy defense minister accused of sexual misconduct during Seoul visit

A Vietnamese senior military official was accused of sexually harassing a South Korean military official in September during a dinner event in Seoul, South Korean military officials revealed Monday.

According to local media reports citing military sources, Vietnamese Deputy Defense Minister Hoang Xuan Chien made inappropriate physical contact with a female South Korean official during a dinner held on Sept. 11 on the sidelines of the Seoul Defense Dialogue.

The Seoul Defense Dialogue is a multilateral security forum hosted annually by South Korea since 2012 to discuss regional peace and defense cooperation. This year’s event, held from Sept. 8 to 10, brought together over 1,000 officials from 68 countries.

The Defense Ministry said it summoned the Vietnamese military attache in Seoul on Sept. 19 to lodge a formal complaint and urge preventive measures. However, Hoang had already departed the country on Sept. 12.

“The ministry has taken necessary measures in accordance with relevant procedures,” a Defense Ministry official said. “The disclosure of details related to the case is limited at the victim’s request.”

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