Senior South Korean prosecutor resigns after investigation order

South Korea's Yonhap news agency reported that Lee Young-ryeol, head of the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office and also the leader of the investigation into the scandal involving former President Park Geun-hye, submitted his resignation on May 18.

Mr. Lee Young-ryeol. Photo: Reuters

The incident came just a day after new President Moon Jae-in ordered an investigation into allegations that he bribed several Justice Ministry officials.

In a quoted statement, Mr. Lee expressed apology for causing concern to the public and announced his resignation, pledging to sincerely cooperate with inspectors.

Earlier, on May 17, Mr. Moon ordered an investigation into media reports that a senior official suspected of having ties to Ms. Park's aide, Mr. Woo Byung-woo, invited the special investigation team headed by Mr. Lee to dinner shortly after their investigation into the scandal ended late last month.

At this meal, two senior officials are suspected of giving envelopes containing 700,000 to 1 million won (about 625-893 USD) to each other's subordinates./.

According to Vietnamplus