Another Minister Resigns Over Golf

Vice Education Minister Lee Gi-woo submitted his resignation over the controversial March 1 golf scandal on Wednesday. President Roh Moo-hyun is likely to accept it, according to reports.

Lee visited the pressroom at the Ministry of Education and Human Resources Development that morning and said, “I have decided to resign after thinking all night long. It is what I should do.”

Lee has been in public office since 1967 when he started out as a government official on the ninth level. He has held the position of chief of staff in the office of the prime minister and is known as a mythical figure in the public service society for his final academic achievement standing as a high school graduate. Lee was appointed the position of vice education minister on February 1, but as explanations regarding the March 1 golf scandal turned out to be false, he resigned in just 43 days.

Meanwhile, former Prime Minister Lee Hae-chan and Vice Education Minister Lee consecutively held a departing session at the Central Government Complex in Sejongno, Seoul, that day and resigned from their positions.

Min-Hyuk Park mhpark@donga.com