South Korea's prime minister apologized and hinted at his resignation yesterday for playing golf when he was expected to be working overtime to oversee the government's response to a disruptive rail strike.
Lee Hae-chan, the country's No. 2 leader and close ally of President Roh Moo-hyun, has been under fire for going golfing last Wednesday, the first day of a nationwide walkout by railway workers.
Lee was off that day, a national holiday marking Korea's 1919 civil uprising against Japanese colonial rule, but he was heavily criticized because South Koreans expect high-level officials to work overtime during times of difficulty.
The walkout by railway workers severely curtailed train services across the country, forcing the cancellation of almost 80 percent of long-distance passenger trains on its first day.
"I am very sorry for causing concern to the people with my incautious behavior," Lee said through his spokesman, Lee Kang-jin.
"Regarding my future course of action, I will talk to the president after he returns from a trip to Africa," he said.
His remarks were taken to mean he is considering stepping down, but his office refused to discuss any details.
South Korea's Yonhap news agency reported Lee "virtually expressed his intention to resign" when he called Roh on Saturday evening. Roh agreed to discuss the issue after returning from his African trip, Yonhap said, citing an unidentified presidential official.
Repeated calls to the presidential office went unanswered yesterday.
Roh begins an eight-day visit to Africa today that includes stops in Egypt, Nigeria and Algeria.
Further dogging Lee were accusations from the opposition and the media that his golf partners included businessmen who allegedly provided illegal political funds during the last presidential election in 2002.
Opposition parties have threatened to seek Lee's ouster unless he steps down voluntarily.
The prime minister is largely a ceremonial job in South Korea where state power is concentrated in the hands of the president. But as one of Roh's key allies, Lee is considered to have considerable influence over state affairs.
In South Korea, golf is largely considered a game for the rich and the influential.
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