South Korea asked the United States Monday for a swift investigation into allegations that a now-sacked presidential spokesman sexually abused a young woman during President Park Geun-hye's visit to the U.S., the presidential office said.
The government made the request via the foreign ministry, asking that the case be handled "in the most swift way within the bounds allowed by U.S. law," and promising to provide U.S. authorities with as much help as possible for the investigation, according to presidential spokeswoman Kim Haing.
Kim also stressed that there is no problem whatsoever with the disgraced former spokesman, Yoon Chang-jung, appearing in the U.S. for investigation, saying it "totally depends" on Yoon's intentions.
Should the victim file a complaint with South Korean authorities, a separate investigation can proceed in South Korea as well, she said.
Yoon, 56, was accused of grabbing the buttocks of his temporarily hired secretary in her early 20s without her permission after drinking with her in Washington on Tuesday night, hours after Park held summit talks with U.S. President Barack Obama.
He was also accused of presenting himself naked to her when she came to his hotel room.
Yoon, who was fired and returned home in the middle of the presidential trip, has flatly denied the allegations, claiming he only patted her on the waist in a gesture to encourage her to do a better job and that he was wearing underpants when she came to his hotel room.
But presidential officials said that Yoon had admitted during an interview with Cheong Wa Dae ethics officers upon his return from the U.S. that he did touch her buttocks and that he was not wearing anything when she went to his hotel room.