South Korea's top Army officer offered to resign Thursday amid a growing dispute over an investigation into irregularities in the Army's shakeup of its topbrass, reported South Korean Yonhap News Agency.

Gen. Nam Jae-joon, chief of staff of the South Korean Army, telephoned Defense Minister Yoon Kwang-ung to express his intention to step down, Yonhap quoted an unnamed Army officer as saying.

The top Army officer was to visit the defense chief to deliver his letter of resignation later in the day, the unnamed officer said.

The move came three days after a military investigation team launched an investigation of allegations that some corrupt, incompetent officers were promoted to general grade last month.

On Tuesday, the Defense Ministry sent investigators to Army headquarters in Daejeon to examine allegations and questioned top Army leaders.

It was the first time the Army head office was searched and raided since its foundation half a century ago.

Source: Xinhua