Will US seek extradition of Yoon?

By Kim Jae-won

Will the United States seek the extradition of former presidential spokesman Yoon Chang-jung for his alleged sexual assault of a 21-year-old Korean American intern in Washington, D.C., Tuesday night?

The intern, who was hired by the Korean Embassy for President Park Geun-hye’s visit, told Washington police that Yoon “grabbed her buttocks without her permission,” according to a copy of a police blotter seen on YTN cable news.

Yoon flew back home to Korea, Wednesday, as U.S. police moved to question him. President Park Geun-hye sacked him, Thursday.

“Either Yoon will be questioned by U.S. police through extradition or the Korean authorities may investigate him,” said Lee Yung-hyeock, a professor at the Korea National Police University (KNPU).

The Korea-U.S. treaty has been effective since 1999, enabling either country to ask for the extradition of a suspect involving crimes that carry more than a one year jail term.

Yoon’s case will be subject to the treaty, if the U.S. police conclude the case merits it.

In October 2002, the U.S. handed over an American to Korea who allegedly killed his classmate in Korea and fled to the U.S.

Pyo Chang-won, a criminal psychologist, said that Korea should hand over Yoon to the U.S.

“Korea should send Yoon to the U.S. and let him be questioned. If not, we will be accused of hiding a sex offender,” said Pyo through his Twitter account.

“It is too early to discuss punishment,” said a prosecutor at the Ministry of Justice on condition of anonymity, saying that at the moment it was nothing more than an allegation.