Spokesman frustrates diplomats, Korean community in U.S.

The Korean community in the United States was upset Thursday by an alleged sexual assault scandal involving President Park Geun-hye’s spokesman that erupted immediately after the president’s first summit in Washington with U.S. President Barack Obama. Employees of the South Korean embassy in Washington were also frustrated by the allegation as they were about to take a breather after months of emergency duties to prepare for President Park’s visit to the U.S.

“I was proud after watching President Park’s speech at Congress with my children,” said a 44-year-old Korean American housewife living in New Jersey. “But then, I became so angry after seeing the news on the ‘Missy USA’ website that I visit frequently.”

“I saw the news with my high school student daughter, and I didn’t know how to explain this to her. Someone I know sent me a message hoping that the news would not be reported by U.S. media and expressing frustration. I feel the same way,” she added.

A Korean artist in New York said, “This incident was predicted. I know Yoon very well in Korea. When President Park appointed him as her spokesman, not only I but also many others who knew him thought that she made a wrong appointment. Finally, this incident has happened. The current administration had it coming. Frankly, the current administration made wrong appointments from the beginning. More incidents could occur in the future.”

As the news of the scandal began to spread Thursday morning, the Korean Cultural Center in Washington, which hired 30 interns to support media coverage of the Park-Obama summit, remained closed throughout the day. “We worked so hard to prepare for (President Park’s visit)...” said an employee at the South Korean embassy in Washington, without being able to finish the sentence over his frustration.