Kim Chul Soo, the head of South Korea’s Red Cross, resigned from his position earlier this week after he was accused of making racist remarks about foreign ambassadors in the country, leading the president to announce the launch of an investigation.
After the conclusion of the 2023 gala dinner in Seoul, it was claimed that Soo told officials “only the non-significant foreign ambassadors were there … just the dark-skinned people,” according to local broadcaster JTBC-TV, which aired a recording of the remark last week.
Rep. Park Ju-min, a South Korean politician from the liberal Democratic Party, revealed the comment during a parliamentary committee.
“From now on, when you organize galas or whatever, don’t invite dark-faced people. Bring in some white ones instead,” Soo was allegedly said.
Investigating the alleged racist comments by the Red Cross chief
President Lee Jae Myung directed the health ministry to investigate the alleged comments made by the Red Cross chief.
"Regarding the media report that the Red Cross chief made racist remarks about foreign ambassadors, including ones from Angola, India, the Czech Republic, and Sri Lanka, President Lee sternly reprimanded such actions, and ordered an immediate inspection of the Health Ministry," presidential spokesperson Kim Nam Joon told reporters.
“There is no justification for my remarks under any circumstances. I bow my head in apology,” Soo wrote on the organization’s internal bulletin on Friday.