South Korean PM offers to resign over golf scandal
South Korea’s prime minister offered his resignation today after drawing a firestorm of criticism for playing golf rather than overseeing the government’s response to a railway strike, the president’s spokesman said.
Lee Hae-chan relayed the offer to step down to President Roh Moo-hyun, who has just returned from a trip to several African countries, presidential spokesman Kim Man-soo said. Roh will decide on Lee’s fate after receiving a full report on the scandal, Kim said.
The prime minister has been under fire from the opposition and public for golfing on March 1, the first day of a nationwide walkout by railway workers.
Lee was off that day, a national holiday marking Korea’s 1919 civil uprising against Japanese colonial rule, but he was heavily criticised because South Koreans expect high-level officials to work overtime during times of crisis.
He repeatedly apologised for the incident, an embarrassment for the ruling Uri Party ahead of local elections in May. Some party leaders had hinted that he should step down to placate the public ahead of the vote.
Prime minister is largely a ceremonial job in South Korea, where power is concentrated in the president’s office. But as one of Roh’s key allies, Lee is considered to have considerable influence over state affairs. He has held the job since June 2004.
The opposition has also questioned the nature of Lee’s golf outing, which reportedly included a businessman who is accused of stock manipulation and others who made illegal campaign contributions during the 2002 presidential election.
The main opposition Grand National Party filed a complaint with prosecutors, claiming Lee could have received requests for favours from the businessmen he played golf with.
“Prime Minister Lee Hae-chan must resign immediately, and that resignation should be accepted,” the GNP said in a statement.
“As to relations between the prime minister, or people on his side, and the businessmen the prime minister played golf with, suspicions of (inappropriate) ties between political and business circles should also be cleared,” the party said.
It wasn’t the first time Lee was accused of hitting the links when critics said he should have been on the job. In April 2005, he was golfing during a wildfire and in July he was again playing when heavy rains buffeted the country’s south.
Golf is popular among upper-class Koreans, who spend vast sums on lessons, green fees and golf holidays.
