South Korea's prime minister has offered to resign amid a bribery scandal about two months after he took up the country's No. 2 post, officials said Tuesday, in the latest political crisis to hit President Park Geun-hye.
Lee Wan Koo has been at the center of a corruption scandal that flared after a businessman killed himself earlier this month, leaving a memo listing the names of high-profile figures he claimed to have bribed.
Businessman Sung Wan-jong told a local daily before his death he gave 30 million won ($36,182.70) to Lee in 2013.
Lee has denied the allegation but he has seen growing calls to resign after South Korea's media have continuously reported alleged evidences that indicate his ties with Sung.
Chun Hye-ran, a presidential spokeswoman in Seoul, confirmed Lee's resignation offer but said she has not been informed whether Park would accept it.
The latest scandal comes as Park struggles to deal with criticism over her government's handling of last year's ferry disaster that killed more than 300 people.
Violence broke out at a Seoul rally Saturday led by relatives of the ferry victims and their supporters, leaving dozens of people injured. Park has faced criticism over what analysts say is her poor communication with the public and lack of transparency on personnel appointments. Some of her previous prime minister and Cabinet member picks have had to withdraw from the nomination process after allegations about their ethical lapses and problematic past behaviors emerged.
South Korea's executive power is concentrated in the president but the prime minister leads the country if the president becomes incapacitated.