YONHAP NEWS AGENCY, KOREA TIMES, KOREAN HERALD (Korea)
SEOUL – South Korean President Park Geun-hye fired her spokesman Yoon Chang-jung on Friday, amid allegations that he had sexually assaulted a woman during an official visit to the United States.
According to the President’s office, Yoon Chang–jung was dismissed on the grounds that he had committed an “unsavory” act on Tuesday, during Park Geun-hye’s first official visit to the U.S., the Korea Times reports.
The Metropolitan Police Department confirmed that they were investigating the report of a Misdemeanor Sexual Abuse, describing the suspect as a 56-year-old male, although not confirming his identity. The Korea Times also reveals that the victim reported the suspect “grabbed her buttocks without her permission,” on Tuesday night at a Washington hotel.
“The decision was made as it was deemed that Yoon showed inappropriate conduct as a high-ranking official and damaged the dignity of the country by being involved in a disgraceful event personally,” said Lee Nam-ki, senior secretary for public relations, the Korean Herald reports.
This scandal is a serious setback for the South Korean President, who had just started regaining popularity in her handling of tensions with North Korea, Yonhap News Agency explains.
