The Justice Ministry said Friday it has advised Cheong Wa Dae to accept the pending resignation by prosecutor general Chae Dong-wook, saying they have secured testimonies and circumstantial evidence to suspect he has engaged in an extramarital affair.

In an emergency press conference, the ministry claimed that they discovered Chae to have frequented the woman in question identified as Im at her caf in Busan and a restaurant in Seoul over a long period of time.

Im allegedly called herself Chae’s wife in 2010 and visited his office. When her entry was denied, Im reportedly commented, “This is not a problem that can go away by avoiding it,” according to the ministry.

“We have secured testimonies and circumstantial data such as comments from various reference witnesses to suspect the allegation to deem there has been inappropriate conduct,” the ministry said. They said their evidence so far contradicted Chae’s denial.

Chae had tendered his resignation on Sept. 12 shortly after Justice Minister Hwang Kyo-ahn ordered an internal investigation into his alleged affair. The investigation on the incumbent prosecutor general, the first of its kind, came at a critical time when the prosecution had been investigating an election meddling scandal.

Earlier this week, Chae sued the Chosun Ilbo, demanding that the newspaper correct the reports that he allegedly had a son from the affair.

By Lee Joo-hee (jhl@heraldcorp.com)