South Korean Prime Minister plans to resign amid bribery allegations.

According to Reuters, on April 21, Yonhap news agency reported that South Korean Prime Minister Lee Wan-koo had expressed his intention to resign, despite previously denying allegations that he received illegal funds from a businessman who had recently committed suicide.

Yonhap quoted a Blue House official as saying, "We confirm that Prime Minister Lee has expressed his intention to resign."

South Korean Prime Minister Lee Wan-koo. (Source: EPA)

South Korean President Park Geun-hye has called for a thorough investigation into the bribery scandal after Prime Minister Lee Wan-koo expressed his intention to resign amid allegations of involvement in the affair.

In a statement released in Lima, where she was on a four-day state visit to Peru, President Park wrote: “The prosecutor’s office needs to clarify everything by conducting a thorough investigation.”

She also instructed officials to ensure that state affairs would not be distracted by this widely publicized scandal.

Park's offer came just hours after Prime Minister Lee offered his resignation amid allegations of involvement in a scandal in which he is accused of receiving 30 million won ($27,000) from Sung Wan-jong, the former chairman of Keangnam Enterprises who committed suicide earlier this month, while campaigning for a seat in the National Assembly in 2013. Seven other senior South Korean politicians are also accused of bribery, but all eight have denied the allegations.

President Park may accept Lee's resignation after concluding her four-country South American tour and returning to South Korea next week. According to the Prime Minister's Office, Vice Prime Minister Choi Kyung-hwang will chair a cabinet meeting in Seoul on April 22nd.

The scandal could weaken President Park Geun-hye's position.

According to VNA