South Korean Justice Minister Cho Kuk offers to resign

Justice Minister Cho Kuk talks to reporters as he leaves the ministry complex in southern Seoul after announcing his resignation offer on Oct. 14, 2019. (Yonhap)

Seoul: In an unexpected move, Justice Minister Cho Kuk offered to resign Monday amid an ongoing probe into corruption allegations involving his family.

“I judged I should not add a burden to the president and the government regarding my family affairs. I think the time has come for me to step down for the successful completion of prosecution reform,” he said in a statement.

“I was mere ‘kindling’ for reforming the prosecution. My role as ‘kindling’ has come to an end.”

President Moon Jae-in formally accepted Cho’s resignation offer, Cheong Wa Dae said. The president signed a related document at 5:38 p.m., Cheong Wa Dae spokesperson Ko Min-jung, said.

Cho was widely seen as the key official to push ahead Moon’s prosecution reform drive.

YONHAP