In the past five years, 49 foreign diplomats in South Korea have evaded prosecution for crimes due to diplomatic immunity, according to recent data.
On September 10, political sources reported that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs submitted information to the National Assembly's Foreign Affairs and Unification Committee, indicating that from 2022 to July 2026, there were 49 incidents involving diplomatic envoys (10 in 2022, 13 in 2023, 10 in 2024, 13 in 2025, and 3 from January to July this year).
The types of crimes varied, including traffic violations, sexual assault, assault, and theft. Additionally, incidents involving family members of diplomats were recorded as 5, 2, 3, 1, and 1 for the respective years. These figures reflect cases reported to law enforcement and subsequently communicated to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The actual number may be higher, as unreported crimes are not included.
The Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations states that diplomatic agents are exempt from the jurisdiction of the receiving state's civil, criminal, and administrative courts. Consequently, foreign diplomats and their families stationed in South Korea cannot be prosecuted under domestic law for crimes committed in the country. Police may conduct voluntary investigations with the consent of the individuals involved, but if the sending country does not waive immunity, the case is typically closed with a determination of 'no prosecution.'
However, if an individual refuses to confirm their identity, they are treated like any other foreign national involved in a crime.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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