South Korea Foreign Minister Yu Myung Hwan Offers to Quit, Spokesman Says

South Korea’s Foreign Minister Yu Myung Hwan offered to quit after local media reports regarding his daughter’s recent employment at the ministry, spokesman Kim Young Sun said.

Controversy erupted after the department hired Yu’s daughter as a mid-level director through a special employment program earlier this week, the Korea Herald newspaper reported today, citing an unidentified government official. President Lee Myung Bak yesterday asked officials to investigate if there was any problem with the hiring, according to the report.

Yu “expressed his intent to resign,” Ministry spokesman Kim said by telephone in Seoul today. He declined to provide details.

The resignation would be a blow to President Lee after his choice for prime minister withdrew amid allegations of corruption less than three weeks after being nominated. Two ministerial nominees also backed out last week after lawmakers’ questioning.

The resignations are a setback in Lee’s efforts to shore up public support in the second half of his term following his party’s unexpected losses in June 2 local elections.

Lee announced a Cabinet reshuffle on Aug. 8, pledging “renewed determination to spearhead efforts to address social conflicts and promote national unity.”

To contact the reporter on this story: William Sim in Seoul at wsim2@bloomberg.net

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