SEOUL, December 11 (AJP) - Minister of Oceans and Fisheries Chun Jae-soo resigned on Thursday, just a few days after allegations emerged that he accepted bribes from the powerful Unification Church, better known as the Moonies.
The church is suspected of bribing a slew of lawmakers from both the ruling Democratic Party (DP) and the main opposition People Power Party (PPP) in favor of its pet project to construct an underwater tunnel between South Korea and Japan.
Speaking at Incheon International Airport upon his arrival from an overseas trip, Chun said, "Stepping down is the right thing to do as a public official."
But Chun, one of key aides of President Lee Jae Myung, denied all the allegations, calling them "groundless," and stressed that the "government should not be shaken."
"This will be clarified through investigations," he added.
* This article, published by Aju Business Daily, was translated by AI and edited by AJP.
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