President Park Geun-hye said Wednesday she will swiftly take follow-up steps as soon as the United States completes an investigation into allegations that her now-fired spokesman sexually abused a young woman during his visit to Washington last week.

Park made the remarks during a meeting with dozens of political editors of newspapers and broadcasters, saying it is regrettable such an unsavory incident happened near the end of her trip, the first overseas visit since taking office in February.

"As we asked the U.S. for an investigation, we will wait for its results, and as soon as the results come out, we will take follow-up measures swiftly," she said.

The former spokesman, Yoon Chang-jung, was fired last week following allegations that he grabbed the buttocks of a young Korean-American woman who was locally hired to assist him as a secretary. The incident allegedly took place after drinking with her in a bar on Tuesday night.

He was also accused of exposing himself to the woman when she came to his hotel room.

Yoon, who returned home in the middle of the presidential trip, has flatly denied the allegations, claiming he only patted her on the waist in a gesture to encourage her to do a better job, and that he was wearing his underpants when she came to his hotel room.

But presidential officials said that Yoon had admitted during an interview with Cheong Wa Dae ethics officers upon his return from the U.S. that he did touch the woman's buttocks and that he was wearing nothing when she dropped in on him in his hotel room.

On Monday, Park apologized over the scandal, and pledged to tighten discipline among officials.

The case has completely overshadowed Park's otherwise successful visit to the U.S., where she and Obama agreed to further upgrade the traditional alliance between the two countries while reaffirming that they are firmly united against threats from North Korea.

(Yonhap News)