One of South Korea's senior Catholic clerics made a public apology today after a woman parishioner complained that a senior priest had attempted to rape her, amid growing criticism over the incident.

The global anti-harassment movement, #MeToo, has taken off only slowly in South Korea, where discussion of sexual misconduct has long been taboo and where gender equality was ranked 118th among 144 nations by the World Economic Forum last year.

Archbishop Kim Hee-joong is the most senior church official to comment after Suwon diocese, 40 km (25 miles) south of Seoul, the capital, suspended the priest – known only by his surname, Han – last week over the alleged rape attempt during a religious mission to South Sudan in 2011.

'The Catholic Bishop's Conference of Korea sombrely offers apologies to the victim and her family as well as those whom we have disappointed over the clerical sex abuse,' Kim told a news conference.

'This sex scandal in the priesthood, which should uphold the noble value of celibacy and serve as a moral and religious compass, is disappointing and embarrassing,' he said.

He said the diocese was pursuing legal action against Han, who could not immediately be reached for comment by Reuters.

Last week, the woman told the national broadcaster KBS News that she hoped the Church could change for the better and South Korean society can build an environment for victims to speak out about their experiences of sexual abuse.

Police have not charged the priest.

The growing momentum of the #MeToo campaign has engulfed several high-profile South Koreans, veteran entertainers and actors among them, prompting President Moon Jae-in to urge law enforcement authorities to investigate sexual abuse claims.

Additional reporting by Reuters.