Park apologizes for Yoon's escapade

By Kim Tae-gyu

President Park Geun-hye looks grim as she presides over the weekly meeting of senior secretaries in Cheong Wa Dae, Seoul, Monday. Park apologized for an alleged sexual abuse incident involving her former spokesman Yoon Chang-jung. / Korea Times photo by Koh Young-kwon

President Park Geun-hye Monday apologized for an alleged sexual abuse involving her former spokesman Yoon Chang-jung.

“I am sorry to cause great disappointment to the people because of the unsavory acts of a civil servant. I sincerely apologize to the intern, her parents and Korean-Americans for shocking and hurting them,” Park said ahead of a meeting with her aides.

“We will take all necessary measures and actively cooperate with the U.S. police. Those involved in the case are required to cooperate in the investigation without any exception and take full responsibility.”

This was Park’s first apology to the public since her inauguration.

Yoon was fired last week due to allegations that he sexually abused a 21-year-old intern hired by the Korean Embassy in Washington, which overshadowed Park’s first overseas trip to the United States as head of state.

She expressed her willingness to use the unprecedented incident as a chance to reinforce discipline among her staff.

Park hinted she would accept the resignation of Lee Nam-ki, the senior secretary for public relations and Yoon’s immediate boss, who indicated his intention of stepping down last week.

Lee did not participate in the weekly meeting — he was also a no-show in the following meeting chaired by presidential chief of staff Huh Tae-yeol. He went to the office in the morning but left shortly afterwards.

Park’s strong words prompted some observers to expect more heads to roll, depending on an investigation by the presidential office.

The main opposition Democratic Party demanded all senior secretaries to quit, in particular chief of staff Huh and Kwak Sang-do, the senior secretary for civil affairs.

“We are waiting on President Park’s decision,” presidential spokeswoman Kim Haing said.

Yoon allegedly “groped” the intern on May 7 (U.S. time) in a bar of a Washington hotel and called her to his hotel room early the next morning where he is suspected of being naked. According to Cheong Wa Dae officials, he confessed that he didn’t wear underwear.

During a press meeting on Saturday, however, Yoon recanted this, saying that he just tapped the intern on the waist to wish her success and did not know who was knocking on his door when he answered her “unexpected visit” in just his underwear.

Yoon did not accompany the President to Los Angeles and returned home May 8 after the police started their investigation.