Opposition leader demands Lee's apology, Cabinet resignation over corruption scandals

SEOUL, Feb. 15 (Yonhap) -- The leader of the main opposition Democratic United Party called Wednesday for a mass resignation of the Cabinet and an apology from President Lee Myung-bak, blasting the administration over a series of corruption scandals. "President Lee should apologize to the people for the corruption and irregularities of this administration and replace the irresponsible and incompetent Cabinet en masse," DUP leader Han Myeong-sook said during a press conference at party headquarters. The opposition party has stepped up criticism of the government ahead of April's general elections, focusing on corruption scandals involving aides and confidants of Lee. The polls are considered a crucial bellweather ahead of December's presidential vote. Lee plans to hold a press conference next week to mark the fourth anniversary of his inauguration and outline policies for his final year in office. He is reportedly considering offering an apology over the corruption allegations. Han urged prosecutors to thoroughly investigate a money-for-vote scandal involving former Parliamentary Speaker Park Hee-tae and former senior presidential aide Kim Hyo-jae in connection with the ruling party's 2008 leadership election. She also shed light on bribery allegations involving Lee's close aides, his elder brother Sang-deuk, and the ex-communications regulator Choi See-joong, who recently stepped down over his aide's bribery allegations. "The DUP will judge Lee's Saenuri Party in the general elections with pledges on jobs, a democratic economy and universal welfare program," Han said. The center-left party has been attacking the Lee administration and the ruling Saenuri Party, which have seen fast-dwindling approval ratings, as part of an aggressive election campaign for the April elections. Since the terms of office in parliament and as president run for four and five years, respectively, this will be the first time in 20 years South Korea will elect a new parliament and a new president in the same year. President Lee is barred from seeking re-election by law. (END)