The Honduran government has revoked the diplomatic immunity of a diplomat accused of harassing and assaulting a Korean man while intoxicated on a Busan subway, enabling South Korean authorities to pursue legal action.
According to local media reports, the announcement came via an official statement in which the Honduran government said it had “immediately lifted the diplomat’s immunity” and would allow him to be investigated and prosecuted under Korean law.
The statement emphasized that Honduran diplomats are expected to comply with the laws and standards of the countries they are stationed in and condemned behavior that violates human rights and personal dignity. The government also added that if the diplomat returns to Honduras, his diplomatic passport will be revoked.
The incident occurred around 6:30 am on June 19, aboard a Line 2 Busan subway train between Millak and Centum City stations.
The Honduran official is accused of forcibly touching and assaulting a Korean man while intoxicated.
The official was reportedly in Busan on business from Seoul at the time. After reviewing the case, Busan police sent a formal notice to the Honduran Embassy in Korea and later summoned them for questioning.
The decision by Honduras to waive diplomatic immunity is highly unusual. According to the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations, diplomats are typically protected from legal liability in host countries.
However, such immunity can be waived by the diplomat’s home country.
Legal experts and human rights advocates are calling the move by Honduras a significant precedent in holding diplomats accountable for misconduct abroad.
