Public see groping scandal harming running of country

A survey showed that around 80 percent of the public believed the alleged sexual assault by former presidential spokesperson Yoon Chang-jung would likely affect President Park Geun-hye’s state management.

According to the survey conducted by private poll taker Mono Research last week, 76 percent of 1,191 survey participants agreed “his acts would inevitably affect state management of the current government” for either a short or long period of time. Another 22 percent agreed that “it might not have a serious impact” since it was his private matter, while 2 percent said they had “no idea.”

Around 40 percent of respondents said Park’s apology at a meeting with senior secretaries last Monday was the best she could do at that moment, while 34 percent said the apology was unsatisfactory, and 22 percent responded that it was inappropriate both in form and content.

Around 57 percent gave a positive assessment of Park’s handling of state affairs, up from 54 percent on April 25.

“The public are aware of the seriousness of the recent incident and its possible impact on state management, but they do not shift much blame toward the president,” said Lee Jae-hwan, a senior researcher of the pollster. “They see it as a personal matter rather than something President Park should take responsibility for.”

Former spokesperson Yoon is accused of sexually harassing an intern who was temporarily hired to help Yoon while he was accompanying President Park during her first visit to the U.S. as head of state.

The now-sacked former spokesperson allegedly touched the buttocks of a 21-year-old intern without her consent at a hotel bar and is suspected of molesting the woman while he was naked at his hotel room in Washington D.C.

He returned to Korea during the presidential visit after the woman reported the case to the police.

The investigation by Washington D.C. police against Yoon is underway and expected to last between a month and three months, according to a news report.

Yoon, who has now gone into hiding, was officially fired from his job at Cheong Wa Dae last Wednesday.

By Kim Young-won (wone0102@heraldcorp.com)