ID :
207405
Thu, 09/15/2011 - 17:30
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://oananews.org//node/207405
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Senior presidential spokesman offers to resign
SEOUL, Sept. 15 (Yonhap) -- Senior Presidential Spokesman Kim Du-woo offered to step down on Thursday over allegations he had ties to a lobbyist at the center of a corruption scandal involving a troubled savings bank.
Kim submitted his resignation to Presidential Chief of Staff Yim Tae-hee, who then reported it to President Lee Myung-bak, said presidential spokesman Park Jung-ha, adding the resignation will be processed according to procedure.
The move comes after prosecutors on Thursday decided to summon Kim on charges of being lobbied by Park Tae-gyu.
The 71-year-old lobbyist is suspected of taking more than 1 billion won (US$899,281) from the corruption-ridden Busan Savings Bank with promises that he would lobby senior officials and politicians so that the lender could avoid a suspension of operations.
Kim said the key reason for his departure is due to the prosecutors' request for an investigation and that it is not right to serve as a presidential aide while being under such a probe, according to spokesman Park.
Kim stressed he has known Park Tae-gyu for around 10 years, but has never done any favors for the lobbyist nor received cash in return, the spokesman Park said.
Kim submitted his resignation to Presidential Chief of Staff Yim Tae-hee, who then reported it to President Lee Myung-bak, said presidential spokesman Park Jung-ha, adding the resignation will be processed according to procedure.
The move comes after prosecutors on Thursday decided to summon Kim on charges of being lobbied by Park Tae-gyu.
The 71-year-old lobbyist is suspected of taking more than 1 billion won (US$899,281) from the corruption-ridden Busan Savings Bank with promises that he would lobby senior officials and politicians so that the lender could avoid a suspension of operations.
Kim said the key reason for his departure is due to the prosecutors' request for an investigation and that it is not right to serve as a presidential aide while being under such a probe, according to spokesman Park.
Kim stressed he has known Park Tae-gyu for around 10 years, but has never done any favors for the lobbyist nor received cash in return, the spokesman Park said.
