More than half of them, including Ambassador Jang Ha-sung, have not been vaccinated yet, leading to speculation that they are shunning Chinese vaccines, reports The Korea Times.

According to Ministry of Foreign Affairs data submitted to Rep. Thae Yong-ho of the main opposition People Power Party, only 35 out of 79 diplomats working at the Korean Embassy in Beijing have been vaccinated so far, the news portal reported.

The low vaccination rate there contrasts with that of the Korean Consulate General in Hong Kong. Among 10 Korean diplomats working there, nine have been vaccinated, while the remaining one person also plans to receive the shot within this month, the news portal reported.

In Hong Kong, Pfizer vaccine is given to authorities in the embassy.

However, in China, Sinopharm or Sinovac vaccines are available for the embassy employees, reports said.

According to the Hankook Ilbo, the sister paper of The Korea Times, many Korean diplomats in China are reportedly delaying vaccine injections until they come to Korea on official duty. Korea's Consul General in Qingdao also told the newspaper that he plans to get vaccinated in Korea.