{"id":2688411,"date":"2026-10-20T11:57:01","date_gmt":"2026-10-20T15:57:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/south-korea-kidnaps-american-christian-ex-diplomat-who-dared-to-criticize-nations-president-while-on-us-soil\/"},"modified":"2026-10-20T11:57:01","modified_gmt":"2026-10-20T15:57:01","slug":"south-korea-kidnaps-american-christian-ex-diplomat-who-dared-to-criticize-nations-president-while-on-us-soil","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/south-korea-kidnaps-american-christian-ex-diplomat-who-dared-to-criticize-nations-president-while-on-us-soil\/","title":{"rendered":"South Korea Kidnaps American Christian, Ex-Diplomat Who Dared to Criticize Nation&#8217;s President While on US Soil"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">32<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fsouth-korea-kidnaps-american-christian-ex-diplomat-who-dared-to-criticize-nations-president-while-on-us-soil%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2688411&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><br \/>\n<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC \"-\/\/W3C\/\/DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional\/\/EN\" \"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/TR\/REC-html40\/loose.dtd\"><br \/>\n<?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><html><body><\/p>\n<section> \t\t\t\t<script>console.log(\"ad slot (AC1)\")<\/script><script>console.log(\"ad slot (IC1)\")<\/script><script>console.log(\"ad slot (IC2)\")<\/script><script>console.log(\"ad slot (IC3)\")<\/script><script>console.log(\"ad slot (IC4)\")<\/script><\/p>\n<p>South Korea \u2014 a country that owes its entire existence to the United States \u2014 has decided to try a former ambassador from President Donald Trump\u2019s first term on criminal defamation charges relating to comments he made about the country\u2019s president while in the United States.<\/p>\n<p>Morse Tan served as U.S. ambassador-at-large for global criminal justice from 2019 to 2021. On Friday, he went on trial in South Korea for comments made a year and a half ago, according to <a href=\"https:\/\/justthenews.com\/nation\/free-speech\/south-korea-traps-prosecutes-ex-trump-ambassador-comments-us-soil-american-media\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Just The News<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>Tan has been critical of the country\u2019s president, Lee Jae Myung, on several occasions, but his current troubles stem from comments made in June 2025 during a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/live\/p508Q66_zCU\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">panel<\/a> hosted by the Korean Conservative Political Action Conference.<\/p>\n<p>Tan questioned the legitimacy of South Korea\u2019s election that took place weeks prior, saying of Lee, \u201cWe\u2019re talking about somebody who has had 12 lawsuits filed against him, five that are still going on,\u201d adding that he was protected by \u201ca corrupt system.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>He also brought up allegations against Lee stemming from when he was a minor.<\/p>\n<p>Tan said that Lee \u201cas a youth, was involved in gang raping and murdering a young lady, and as a result was put in juvenile detention and therefore was not able to attend junior high.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Defamation charges also stem from comments made in July 2026 about the aforementioned panel on election fraud. He was in South Korea while making them, but his initial comments were made in the U.S.<\/p>\n<p>His counsel has entered a not guilty plea on the ground of jurisdiction, arguing that Tan should not be charged for remarks given outside the country, and added \u201cthere was no disclosure of false facts, nor was there any awareness that the statements were false.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The indictment against Tan is dubious when considering prosecutors apparently examined Lee\u2019s juvenile records and found no evidence of the statements Tan made. The issue here is that those records are not publicly available.<\/p>\n<p>Tan came to South Korea in the spring of 2026 to work as an election monitor but was quickly banned from leaving the country and classified as a flight risk. He missed his grandmother\u2019s funeral because of the ordeal.<\/p>\n<p>He told the <a href=\"https:\/\/dailycaller.com\/2026\/09\/18\/morse-tan-ambassador-south-korea-trial-free-speech-travel-ban-donald-trump-china-north-korea\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Daily Caller News Foundation<\/a> that the \u201cshow trial\u201d could see him in prison for seven years.<\/p>\n<p>In that interview, he had a harsh label for the current South Korean administration, saying they \u201cshould be thought of as North Korean operatives.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Members of Congress have been calling attention to Tan\u2019s situation.<\/p>\n<p>California Rep. Young Kim, a Republican who chairs the House Foreign Affairs East Asian and Pacific Affairs Subcommittee, <a href=\"https:\/\/youngkim.house.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/Letter-Regarding-Morse-Tan.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">wrote<\/a> to South Korean Ambassador Kang Kyung-wha in August, saying, \u201cThis treatment raises serious concerns about freedom of expression and due process. The case regards statements Ambassador Tan made as a private American citizen while in the United States.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cMr. Tan\u2019s First Amendment rights as an American citizen must be respected.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThe U.S.-ROK alliance extends far beyond protecting the security of the Korean Peninsula and ensuring the stability of the Indo-Pacific. We have a d commitment to representative government, individual liberty, freedom of expression, and the rule of law. The treatment of Mr. Tan, an American citizen and public servant, could affect perceptions of the Republic of Korea\u2019s adherence to those d values.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Looking at the situation, it is preposterous that an ally from the Cold War would do such a thing.<\/p>\n<p>South Korea has American soldiers stationed at its border to ensure its sovereignty.<\/p>\n<p>Americans have died for this country to exist.<\/p>\n<p>They are spitting in our faces with Tan\u2019s indictment.<\/p>\n<p>Geopolitically, the trial carries great consequences for the security of Asia. China and North Korea will take great comfort in seeing a divide forming here.<\/p>\n<div style=\"background-color: #f7f7f7; color: #171717; display: flex;font-size: 16px;font-weight: 600;line-height: 1.5;margin: 24px 0;padding: 18px 20px 18px 30px;text-align: left;\">\n<div style=\"align-self: stretch;border-left: 3px solid #171717;flex-shrink: 0;padding-left: 20px;\"><\/div>\n<p><a style=\"text-decoration: none;\" href=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/preferences\/source?q=https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/\">Choose The Western Journal as your preferred source on Google and never miss reporting that defends truth, protects freedom, and advances Western civilization<\/a><\/div>\n<p style=\"border: 1px solid #f5f5f5; padding: 16px;\">Advertise with The Western Journal and reach millions of highly engaged readers, while supporting our work. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/advertise-us\/?wj_source=article\">Advertise Today<\/a>.<\/p>\n<div style=\"position: relative;\">\n<div class=\"ff-fancy-header-container\"> \t\t\t \t<\/div>\n<div class=\"entry-submit-correction inner-content\">\n<div class=\"correction-form\">\n<form style=\"display: none;\">\n<div class=\"sc-name-field\"> \t\t\t\t\t\t<label>* Name<\/label> \t\t\t\t\t\t<br \/> \t\t\t\t\t\t<input type=\"text\" name=\"name\" required> \t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n<div class=\"sc--field\"> \t\t\t\t\t\t<label>* <\/label> \t\t\t\t\t\t<br \/> \t\t\t\t\t\t<input type=\"text\" name=\"\" required> \t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n<p> \t\t\t\t\t<label>* Message<\/label> \t\t\t\t\t<br \/> \t\t\t\t\t<textarea name=\"message\" required><\/textarea> \t\t\t\t\t \t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n<div class=\"required-message\" style=\"display: none; padding-bottom: 15px;\">* All fields are required.<\/div>\n<p> \t\t\t\t\t<input type=\"submit\" value=\"Submit\" onclick=\"event.preventDefault(); firefly_sc();\"> \t\t\t\t\t \t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n<div class=\"firefly-sc-confirm\" style=\"display: none;\">Success!<\/div>\n<\/p><\/form>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p> \t\t<script> \t\t\tfunction firefly_sc() { \t\t\t\tif( typeof window.captchaPublicKey == typeof undefined ){ \t\t\t\t\tconsole.error('window.captchaPublicKey is not defined'); \t\t\t\t} \t\t\t\tgrecaptcha.execute( window.captchaPublicKey, { action: 'submit_correction' } ).then( function( token ) { \t\t\t\t\tvar opts = { \t\t\t\t\t\taction:    'firefly_sc_submit', \t\t\t\t\t\tname:      document.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction [name=\"name\"]' ).value, \t\t\t\t\t\t:     document.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction [name=\"\"]' ).value, \t\t\t\t\t\tmessage:   document.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction [name=\"message\"]' ).value, \t\t\t\t\t\tpost_id:   firefly_post_id, \t\t\t\t\t\tcap_token: token \t\t\t\t\t}  \t\t\t\t\tvar inputs = [ 'name', '', 'message' ];  \t\t\t\t\tfor( var i = 0; i < inputs.length; i++ ) if( ! 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Morse Tan served as U.S. ambassador-at-large for global criminal<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":2688412,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/Ben-Working-Feature-Image-2026-10-20T104940.688.jpg","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[33651],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2688411","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-the-western-journal"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/Ben-Working-Feature-Image-2026-10-20T104940.688.jpg","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2688411","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2688411"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2688411\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2688412"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2688411"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2688411"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2688411"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}