Home

The Korea Herald

Latest news

Most Popular

  1. 1

    Contentious grain bill put directly to plenary meeting for vote

    Contentious grain bill put directly to plenary meeting for vote
  2. 2

    Yoon's approval rating plunges to all-time low

    Yoon's approval rating plunges to all-time low
  3. 3

    Will tug-of-war between doctors, government end soon?

    Will tug-of-war between doctors, government end soon?
  4. 4

    Climate impacts set to cut 2050 global GDP by nearly a fifth

    Climate impacts set to cut 2050 global GDP by nearly a fifth
  5. 5

    Trilateral talks acknowledge ‘serious’ slumps of won, yen

    Trilateral talks acknowledge ‘serious’ slumps of won, yen
  1. 6

    [Graphic News] More Koreans say they plan long-distance trips this year

    [Graphic News] More Koreans say they plan long-distance trips this year
  2. 7

    [KH Explains] Hyundai's full hybrid edge to pay off amid slow transition to pure EVs

    [KH Explains] Hyundai's full hybrid edge to pay off amid slow transition to pure EVs
  3. 8

    North Korea removes streetlights along cross-border roads with South

    North Korea removes streetlights along cross-border roads with South
  4. 9

    Russia's denial of entry of S. Korean national unrelated to bilateral ties: Seoul official

    Russia's denial of entry of S. Korean national unrelated to bilateral ties: Seoul official
  5. 10

    Farming households dip below 1m for first time in 2023

    Farming households dip below 1m for first time in 2023
소아쌤

KOICA head offers to resign amid alleged link to scandal-ridden Park confidante

By KH디지털2

Published : April 19, 2017 - 11:08

    • Link copied

The head of South Korea's state-run overseas aid agency offered to resign on Wednesday amid allegations that his appointment was influenced by a woman who is at the center of a corruption scandal that led to the ouster of former President Park Geun-hye, the foreign ministry said.

Kim In-sik, 68, president of the Korea International Cooperation Agency, recently delivered his intention to step down to the ministry, which is supervising its operation, according to the source.

"He submitted his resignation letter today," the ministry said. "A related administration process will start."

(Yonhap) (Yonhap)

A recent investigation found that Kim's choice as the KOICA head was recommended by Park's close confidante Choi Soon-sil, seeking to make profits from a project in Myanmar. Earlier this month, South Korean Ambassador to Myanmar Yoo Jae-kyung also offered to resign after he was revealed to have been recommended by Choi.

Choi was arrested last year for extorting a large amount of money from businesses by using her longtime relationship with Park.

The scandal prompted monthslong nationwide protests and eventually cost Park her presidency in March.

Kim's departure will likely be completed at the latest before the presidential election to be held on May 9 to fill the void caused by Park's ouster.

Kim spent most of his career at the Korea Trade-Investment Promotion Agency. He was named the head of KOICA in May last year after serving as president of the KINTEX exhibition hall, located north of Seoul, from 2005-2008. (Yonhap)

More from Headlines