S. Korea president calls for thorough probe as PM resigns

TOKYO, April 21 (KUNA) -- South Korean President Park Geun-hye called for a thorough probe into a bribery scandal after her embattled prime minister offered to quit over his alleged involvement in the scandal, Yonhap News Agency reported Tuesday.
"The prosecution should clearly shed light on everything by conducting a thorough investigation," Park said in a written comment released in Lima, Peru, where she is on a four-day state visit, according to the report.
"I feel the agony of the prime minister," Park said. The comment came hours after Prime Minister Lee Wan-koo offered his resignation over a high-profile scandal that involved him and seven other former and current top politicians, mostly close to Park.
Lee is accused of accepting KRW 30 million (USD 27,000) in cash from a late businessman in 2013, when Lee was running for a parliamentary seat.
Still, Lee has flatly denied the allegation. Lee had vowed to stay in his job despite the mounting pressure and Park has said that she will determine Lee's political fate after she returns from the trip early next week.
Deputy Prime Minister Choi Kyung-hwan will preside over a regular Cabinet meeting on Tuesday, according to the prime minister's office. (end) mk.tg