Sex scandal leads to sacking of S. Korean prez's spokesman

agencies

Dismissed..Yoon Chang-jung, a 57-year-old former journalist..

IANS

A report said Washington police has launched an investigation into the allegation...

SEOUL: South Korean President Park Geun-hye has fired her spokesman over a sexual assault that allegedly took place during her official visit to the US, the presidential office said Friday.

Yoon Chang-jung, a 57-year-old

former journalist, was suspected of sexually assaulting a young woman who worked as an intern at the South Korean Embassy in Washington, Xinhua reported.

A report said Washington police has launched an investigation into the allegation.

Yoon was accompanying President Park on an official visit to the US, that included a meeting with US President Barack Obama, Yonhap news agency reported.

Senior presidential press secretary Lee Nam-ki said Yoon's "inappropriate behaviour hurts national dignity".

The sacking came as a surprise, as Park is still on her five-day visit to the US.

South Korea's main opposition Democratic Party Friday urged Park to apologise to the South Korean people.