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¡°Can you remember a conversation you had while eating dinner eight or nine years ago? I don¡¯t recall at all.¡±
This was the first reaction of Korean Ambassador to the United States Hong Seok-hyun on Thursday, immediately after news broke of a tape recorded by a secret bugging team under the now-defunct Agency for National Security Planning. Hong took a couple of questions on his way to a brunch that day but said nothing more.
Reporters also questioned Hong when he left the office that day, and all he would say was, ¡°I will proceed while maintaining composure. I will think of it as God¡¯s will. In my life, I cannot tell what¡¯s good in the long run.¡± He absolved the rest of his schedule as normal.
Hong remained silent as the scandal grew around him, going to work as normal on Friday and carrying out his official schedule but avoiding contact with the press. He cancelled a dinner with Korean correspondents at his official residence, the first such dinner since his appointment. The embassy spokesperson said, ¡°Ambassador Hong will reveal his position in an appropriate way at an appropriate time.¡± There was no indication when an ¡°appropriate time¡± might come.
On Saturday, Hong and his wife went on a trip to the outskirts of Washington which the embassy said had been planned long in advance, but some wondered if perhaps he had some things to think about.
Hong did not come to work on Monday. Embassy officials said he had a severe cold. He called the embassy right before a supervisors¡¯ meeting to let them know. It was at this time the Hong called Cheong Wa Dae. At 9:30 a.m. (10:30 p.m. Korea time), he told Kim Woo-sik, the presidential chief of staff, that he would resign as ambassador, and Kim reported this directly to President Roh Moo-hyun.
President Roh announced his position on the controversial tape Monday morning, five days after news of the tape broke, but he revealed no clear position on the fate of Ambassador Hong. His statement that an objective investigation into the facts was needed first led some to believe he would not replace Hong.
But on Tuesday morning Roh decided to accept Hong¡¯s resignation. With that, Hong has cancelled all official engagements.
(englishnews@chosun.com )
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