Professional-Bangladesh South Korean Journalist Barred from Getting into Bangladesh

In a stunning transfer, the Bangladesh Embassy in Seoul has denied a visa to Joseph Joh, a distinguished South Korean journalist and Managing Editor of the influential media outlet The Seoul Instances. Recognized for his pro-Bangladesh stance, Joh’s deliberate go to aimed toward exploring the Rohingya disaster, Bangladesh’s financial achievements, and potential areas for South Korean funding, has been abruptly halted with out clear justification, elevating considerations over diplomatic and media relations between the 2 nations.

Joseph Joh, a veteran journalist extremely regarded throughout the South Korean journalist neighborhood, supposed to go to Bangladesh from July 9 to 13. His purpose was to be taught in regards to the Rohingya problem, the commendable position of the Bangladesh Armed Forces within the UN Peace Mission, Bangladesh’s great financial progress underneath the management of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, and potential sectors for South Korean funding within the nation. Moreover, Mr. Joh sought to discover the potential for scholar exchanges between faculties and universities in Bangladesh and South Korea.

In keeping with a report revealed in The Seoul Instances, “The Bangladesh Embassy in Seoul threatened to disclaim a visa to the native Korean journalist on June 27, 2024”, as revealed by Joseph Joh, the writer of The Seoul Instances.

The report additional states that on June 25, 2024, when Joseph Joh visited the Bangladesh Embassy for the second time with a duplicate of the required invitation letter, visa cost, passport, and a confirmed airline ticket, An Ji-Yoon (Jane An), the secretary to the ambassador, knowledgeable him that Mispe Soren, the Second Secretary and Head of Chancery, had notified her that Joh’s visa utility “can be denied for no specific motive”.

Listening to this, Joseph Joh expressed his utter dismay and repeatedly tried to succeed in Mispe Soren by telephone.

Tremendously shocked and shocked by the Bangladesh Embassy’s impolite conduct in the direction of a senior journalist, Joseph Joh later instructed Blitz editor Salah Uddin Shoaib Choudhury over the telephone, “In my very lengthy journalistic profession, I’ve by no means skilled such rudeness and hostility from any embassy in South Korea”.

In an e mail to Blitz editor, Joseph Joh wrote: “She [Mispe Soren] ignored as many as 13 visa-related messages I despatched to her cellular phone. She by no means answered the one one name I made, by no means return my name. On my second go to to the embassy yesterday [June 27, 2024] her Korean and Bangladesh employees had been making an attempt to assist me with visa. One Korean male employees went upstairs with my passport to get the approval. I waited lengthy on the bottom flooring, anticipating to get the visa on my second go to. However one thing went flawed. He got here all the way down to me with nervous seems. He instructed me that visa can take many extra days. However what shocked me was that my visa could be denied. I instantly requested him “Why?” What’s the motive? Am I terrorist? Or harmful harmful individual or private non grata? He has no reply. I requested him once more who stated my visa could be denied? He stated Ms. Soren!”

It might be talked about that Joseph Joh started his journalistic profession in 1988 with the Korea Herald, a significant English-language each day. In 1997, he moved to the mass-circulated vernacular each day DongA Ilbo, working on the Worldwide Information Desk. In 2000, he established The Seoul Instances, which has change into a well known information portal amongst diplomats, politicians, civil-military bureaucrats, teachers, researchers, entrepreneurs, and key executives in giant enterprise conglomerates in South Korea.

Joseph Joh graduated from Dongguk College and Yonsei College, majoring in English and Political Science, respectively. Below a authorities scholarship, he studied on the College of Journalism and Mass Communications on the College of Wisconsin-Madison between 1993 and 1995, incomes a grasp’s diploma in journalism.

Commenting on this troubling incident, Blitz editor Salah Uddin Shoaib Choudhury said, “This unjust denial of a visa to Joseph Joh will undoubtedly solid a darkish shadow over Bangladesh’s popularity throughout the South Korean media neighborhood. Joseph Joh and his newspaper have been steadfast supporters of Bangladesh for many years, vigorously selling the nation’s achievements and the management of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.

“It’s deeply regarding to witness such unprofessional and hostile conduct from the Bangladesh Embassy in the direction of a revered journalist. Authorities in Dhaka should urgently examine this matter, maintain these accountable accountable, and be certain that diplomatic relations and journalistic freedoms are upheld. The fast withdrawal and alternative of Mispe Soren with a extra competent and respectful official is critical to stop additional diplomatic fallout and restore Bangladesh’s picture”.

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