Mongolia is recalling its diplomats in South Korea over a case of 13 year-old Mongolian girl assaulted and beaten by senior Korean students.

Minister of Foreign Affairs B.Battsetseg presented a proposal to the President on Friday (10 December) to recall Mrs. N.Erdenetuya, Ambassador of Mongolia to South Korea and Ts.Unurzaya, Chief of Consul in Busan for a responsibility of handling the case.

According to law, the President has authority of Ambassadors appointment and removal. Therefore, President U.Khurelsukh will decide on whether to recall N.Erdenetuya. Still, the final decision of N.Erdenetuya’s removal must be approved by parliament. However, the Foreign Minister has authority of recalling the Consul. Therefore, Ts.Unurzaya will be removed from the post of Chief of Consul in Busan.

N.Erdenetuya was appointed as an Ambassador of Mongolia to South Korea in May, 2020. She has 26 years of working experience in civil service- 23 years as a diplomat. Previously, B.Khurts, former Head of the General Intelligence Agency (GIA) was nominated for the post of Mongolian Ambassador to South Korea; however, declined by former President Kh.Battulga.

As for Ts.Unurzaya, she is a daughter of Sh.Tsogtoo, former judge of Mongolian Constitutional Court and close to former President Kh.Battulga.

-The bully case-

The four students living in Yangsan, South Gyeongsang Province, whose identities were withheld, have been accused of beating the 13-year-old girl for about six hours starting at midnight on 3 July, 2020. The victim was a middle school student who moved to Korea from Mongolia about 10 years ago.

They tied the victim’s hands and legs and punched her in the head and face multiple times, and wrote racial slurs on her forehead, according to Yangsan Police Station. The students filmed the act and later distributed the video among fellow students, offering to sell the footage for 5,000 won ($4), according to police.

The police said they have handed two students over to prosecutors after charging them with group assault, 28 October. The other two were sent to the juvenile department of Ulsan District Court, as minors aged 14 or younger cannot be held criminally responsible under current laws.

A public petition was posted on the Cheong Wa Dae website, calling for harsh punishment for the students and the disclosure of their identities.