Former U.S. Diplomat Morse Tan Pleads Not Guilty in South Korean Defamation Case

Former U.S. Ambassador-at-Large Morse Tan appeared in the Seoul Central District Court on Friday, entering a plea of not guilty to criminal defamation charges. The case stems from comments Tan made during a June 2025 event at the National Press Club in Washington, D.C., where he repeated allegations regarding the teenage history of South Korean President Lee Jae Myung. Tan has been prohibited from leaving South Korea since May 2026, when he arrived to observe local elections.

During the hearing, Tan’s legal defense argued that the South Korean court lacks jurisdiction to prosecute a U.S. citizen for speech delivered on American soil. The charges were brought under South Korea’s Criminal Act and the Information and Communications Network Act, which were recently amended to address the spread of misinformation. Tan has characterized the legal proceedings as an infringement on his rights and has expressed concerns regarding the current political climate in South Korea, alleging that the government is increasingly hostile toward Christianity and influenced by foreign actors.