South Korea’s Prime Minister, Lee Wan-koo, has offered to resign on Monday amid a growing political scandal.
Mr Lee, who has only been in the job for two months, tendered his resignation after the main opposition party said it would seek his impeachment.
The Prime Minister has transferred his role of chairing Cabinet meetings to the deputy prime minister for the time being, according to his office.
The situation was triggered by the suicide earlier in April of the former head of a bankrupt construction company, Sung Wan-jong.
In his pocket, investigators found a note that listed the names of eight people, including Lee and presidential chief of staff Lee Byung-Kee, alongside numbers that were alleged to indicate bribery sums.
Mr Lee had adamantly denied accepting 30 million won (about $27,700) in illegal campaign funds from Sung.
The suicide came as Sung was about to be questioned by prosecutors over allegations that he created a slush fund with embezzled company money to bribe politicians and government officials.
Mr Lee and seven other politicians with links to the South Korean President are under investigation. A special prosecutor’s team has been established to investigate the case.
“If there are any evidence, I will give out my life. As a Prime Minister, I will accept Prosecutor Office’s investigation first,” he said.
The South Korea President, Park Geun-Hye, has said that she is taking the accusations very seriously. Before departing on her trip to Central and South America, she condemned political corruption in her country.
“Corruption and deep-rooted evil are issues that can lead to taking away people’s lives. We take this very seriously.”
“We must make sure to set straight this issue as a matter of political reform. I will not forgive anyone who is responsible for corruption or wrongdoing.”
President Park is in Peru and is expected to arrive back to South Korea on April 27.
