By Kang Seung-woo
Dismissed presidential spokesman Yoon Chang-jung remained a figure of controversy from the day he was appointed to the moment he was sacked Thursday.
Five days after winning the election, then President-elect Park Geun-hye "unexpectedly" named the former journalist as her senior spokesman when he joined the presidential transition team.
A native of South Chungcheong Province who began his journalism career at The Korea Times, he also worked for the Korea Broadcasting System (KBS), Segye Ilbo and Munwha Ilbo, and made a name for himself as a sharp-tongued political columnist.
Due to his extreme rightist views, he often became embroiled in controversy.
After his appointment as mouthpiece for the transition team, he drew criticism from opposition parties for heavily attacking opposition candidates Moon Jae-in and Ahn Cheol-soo during last year's presidential campaign.
His way of announcing personnel appointments also invited attacks because he failed to specify details of people nominated and appointed at press briefings.
During the President's first overseas trip, the 56-year-old came under the spotlight while in charge of briefings, but this proved to be a short-lived role because of an allegation of sexual assault against him forced the President to sack Yoon.
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Dismissed presidential spokesman Yoon Chang-jung remained a figure of controversy from the day he was appointed to the moment he was sacked Thursday.
Five days after winning the election, then President-elect Park Geun-hye "unexpectedly" named the former journalist as her senior spokesman when he joined the presidential transition team.
A native of South Chungcheong Province who began his journalism career at The Korea Times, he also worked for the Korea Broadcasting System (KBS), Segye Ilbo and Munwha Ilbo, and made a name for himself as a sharp-tongued political columnist.
Due to his extreme rightist views, he often became embroiled in controversy.
After his appointment as mouthpiece for the transition team, he drew criticism from opposition parties for heavily attacking opposition candidates Moon Jae-in and Ahn Cheol-soo during last year's presidential campaign.
His way of announcing personnel appointments also invited attacks because he failed to specify details of people nominated and appointed at press briefings.
During the President's first overseas trip, the 56-year-old came under the spotlight while in charge of briefings, but this proved to be a short-lived role because of an allegation of sexual assault against him forced the President to sack Yoon.
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