South Korean Foreign Minister Yu Myung Hwan offered to resign Saturday over allegations that the ministry manipulated its rules to offer a job to his daughter, DPA reported.
His offer came a week after three of President Lee Myung Bak's cabinet appointees, including prime minister-designate Kim Tae Ho, withdrew over allegations of ethical lapses as Lee tries to reshuffle his cabinet to give his government a boost after the ruling conservative Grand National Party suffered a defeat in countrywide local elections in June.
Yu offered to step aside a day after he apologized for the hiring of his 35-year-old daughter to a mid-level post concerning trade affairs. He said she would not accept the job while denying her hiring had been unfair.
The apology failed to quell public anger over the incident.
Yu was sorry that the job for his daughter had caused such anger, a ministry spokesman said in announcing his resignation offer.
Lee was expected to accept the resignation of Yu, 64, who is the longest-serving official in his government. He has been South Korea's top diplomat since the beginning of Lee's term in February 2008.