The Foreign Ministry is looking into news reports concerning the spread of anti-Korean sentiment among African Americans in Dallas in the U.S. state of Texas.

Consul General Cho Yun-soo who is based in Houston and oversees affairs in the U.S. Mid-South visited Dallas on Sunday, local time. He heard from Korean association officials and discussed measures to resolve the situation.

Cho is known to be planning a tour of southern Dallas where African-American residents are campaigning to banish stores owned by Asians, including a gas station run by a Korean American identified by his last name Park.

Park, a U.S. citizen, allegedly made racially discriminatory remarks to an African-American pastor.

The consul general says Park is a U.S. citizen and therefore South Korea cannot be directly involved, but Seoul will take precaution and active steps as the issue could impact the entire Korean community.