South Korean Prime Minister offers to resign over bribe allegations

Seoul, April 21: South Korean Prime Minister Lee Wan-koo offered to resign over bribe allegations levelled against him, media reported on Tuesday.

Lee has offered his resignation to President Park Geun-hye, which is yet to clear whether she has accepted it or not, BBC reported.

Allegation emerged this month that Lee took 30 million won, or $27,700, in illegal cash donations from a South Korean businessman Sung Wan-jong in 2013.

However, he denied accepting the bribe in 2013, but has come under pressure to stand down.

According to law in South Korea, politicians are barred from accepting more than 100,000 won in contributions.

The matter took ugly turn when Sung allegedly committed suicide earlier this month. A note was found in his pocket that contains names of various people, including PM Lee. The note also contains some figure which seems amount paid to the people.

An opposition party then called for Lee's impeachment, who has been in the job for only two months. He came to power after his predecessor, Chung Hong-won resigned after the Sewol ferry disaster in April 2014 that killed more than 300 people.

OneIndia News