The justice minister and a presidential aide offered to resign earlier this week after President Park Geun-hye was implicated as an accomplice in a high-profile corruption scandal involving her confidante, the presidential office Cheong Wa Dae said Wednesday.
Justice Minister Kim Hyun-woong and Choi Jai-kyeong, senior presidential secretary for civil affairs, tendered their resignations after the prosecution claimed Sunday that Park was complicit in wrongdoings involving her friend Choi Soon-sil and key former aides.
Park has yet to decide whether to accept their resignations, Cheong Wa Dae said.
Justice Minister Kim Hyun-woong is seen speaking during a parliamentary session at the National Assembly in Seoul, Nov. 22. (Yonhap)
Park faces an independent counsel probe into the scandal, through which the presidential office vowed to clear what it calls unfounded allegations against her. The counsel, to be recommended by the opposition parties, is expected to begin the investigation next month for a period of up to four months. (Yonhap)MOST POPULAR