Scandal to pose huge burden on Park

The Korea Times

The Korea Times

National

Wed, November 29, 2023 | 10:22

Scandal to pose huge burden on Park

Posted : 2013-05-10 16:40

Updated : 2013-05-10 16:40

A group of reporters wait for Yoon Chang-jung, former presidential spokesman, in front of his house in Hap-dong, Seoul. Yoon's whereabouts have remained unknown since he arrived in Seoul, Thursday, after being accused of sexual assault by a female intern in the U.S. Korea Times photo by Kim Ju-young

President's US visit suffers major setback

By Jun Ji-hye

Former presidential spokesman Yoon Chang-jung's alleged sexual harassment of a female aide not only dealt a huge blow to President Park Geun-hye but is expected to impose a big burden on her administration as a whole, analysts said.

President Park's unprecedented sacking of her spokesman during her visit to the United States is a reflection of the severity of the matter.

"The case is a fly in the ointment of the president's successful U.S. tour," said Bae Jong-chan, director of the department of social research and a consultant at Research & Research.

Bae said Yoon's improper behavior tarnished the achievements of her U.S. trip, including a joint declaration commemorating the 60th anniversary of the alliance.

He added: "Park's 100th day in office comes in June. It is about time she began forging ahead with realizing her pledges in earnest. But following Yoon's dismissal, she has to find another figure to fill the hole. This is very unfortunate."

The opposition parties slammed Yoon and at the same time criticized President Park for what they call her "non-communicative" personnel management style.

Park's spokesman fired over sexual misconduct

2013-05-10 17:05 | National

Yoon returned to Korea alone after being accused by a 21-year-old Korean-American of sexual assault Wednesday (local time). According to the report written by local police, Yoon grabbed her buttocks without her permission, Tuesday.

The Democratic Party (DP) took issue with Park's appointment failure again, which it has constantly raised since Park was elected president.

Rep. Lee Un-ju, the DP's spokeswoman, said it was a "very shameful case" that damaged national prestige. "President Park will have to call Yoon to account, along with making a public apology," she said.

Rep. Park Jie-won, the DP's former floor leader, said, "We vehemently opposed Yoon's appointment from the time he was selected as a spokesman for the power transition team. This is a disaster that resulted from Park's non-communicative appointment style."

He also pointed out that Cheong Wa Dae did not take proper follow-up measures regarding the case, raising suspicions that the presidential office helped Yoon to return to Korea just an hour after he was reported to local police.

"If Cheong Wa Dae hid Yoon, who was allegedly caught in flagrante delicto, before the case became public, it will make the incident more disgraceful," he said.

Hong Sung-kyu, the spokesman for Unified Progressive Party, criticized Cheong Wa Dae's way of announcing the unprecedented case.

"Lee Nam-ki, Park's senior secretary for public relations, said at an emergency press briefing that Yoon went back to Korea due to a personal problem. One Cheong Wa Dae official even stated that Yoon's wife was in a critical condition. Those were just absurd claims," he said.

The ruling Saenuri Party expressed its regret, saying "It is unpardonable that a government official who went there to conduct public duties got involved in a shameful incident due to moral laxity."

After his arrival, Yoon was questioned by the presidential office of civil affairs Friday.

Regarding this, Rep. Min Hyun-joo, the ruling party's spokeswoman, said: "Yoon acknowledged that he drank with a female intern working for the Korean Embassy in the U.S., but rejected the allegation about sexual assault."

jjh@koreatimes.co.kr