Republic of Korea's PM offers to quit amid political scandal
The Republic of Korea's Prime Minister, who has denied an allegation that he took illegal funds from a businessman who committed suicide, has offered to resign, Yonhap news agency said on April 21.
In a scandal that threatens to weaken President Park Geun-hye, Prime Minister Lee Wan-koo has denied he received 30 million won ($27,000) in campaign funds from businessman Sung Wan-jong. Sung was found earlier this month hanging by his necktie from a tree while under investigation for fraud and bribery.
Park is in the third year of a single five-year term and her Saenuri Party faces a parliamentary general election next year for control of the 300-seat assembly.
"We have confirmed that Prime Minister Lee has conveyed his will to resign," Yonhap quoted a presidential Blue House official who is traveling with Park in Peru as saying.
Park is on a four-country trip to South and Central America and returns on April 27. An official at the presidential Blue House in Seoul could not confirm the resignation report.