Auditors find nepotism over S.Korean minister's daughter

South Korea's foreign ministry violated regulations and granted special favors in hiring the daughter of the minister in charge, state auditors said Monday.

Foreign Minister Yu Myung-hwan on Saturday offered to quit after being accused of nepotism over the controversial hiring last week of his 35-year-old daughter for a mid-level post.

Officials said Monday that President Lee Myung-bak would accept the resignation.

Yu was the fourth official in a week to offer to resign over ethical questions, dealing yet another political blow to Lee.

"We confirmed that the foreign ministry knew in advance that Yu's daughter had applied and violated rules to have her hired," the home ministry said Monday in a statement after a probe by its auditors.

The foreign ministry violated rules in forming a five-member interview panel comprising two senior ministry officials and three outsiders, it said.

The two ministry officials gave Yu's daughter near-perfect scores while three interviewers gave other applicants more points, it said, adding that some foreign ministry officials made comments favoring the daughter during application reviews.

In a statement Monday, Yu, who entered foreign service in 1973, apologized again for bringing trouble to his ministry and colleagues, his office said.

First Vice Foreign Minister Shin Kak-Soo will serve as acting minister.

AFP