South Korean newly appointed Vice Prime Minister and Education Minister Lee Ki-jun offered resignation on Friday amid a continuing controversy over his ethical standards.

"I wish to step down from my post as I failed to fulfill my duty as an education minister," said Lee in a news conference held at the main government complex in downtown Seoul in late Friday.

"I wanted to do my best in my ministerial post because I thought this was my last chance to serve the country, but I apologize to our officials of the Education Ministry and other educational workers for causing social disputes," he said.

Lee's resignation came three days after South Korean President Roh Moo-hyun tapped him as vice prime minister and minister for education and human resources development.

Since the nomination, local media and non-governmental organizations raised lots of doubts about his ethical standards.

Lee has been criticized for his service as an outside director of a conglomerate and his free-spending ways when he was president of Seoul National University.

He was also criticized for his son's alleged attempt to avoid mandatory military service by acquiring citizenship of the United States.

Moreover, local media widely reported that Lee hid several real estate by registering it under his son's name.

It was not known whether Roh Moo-hyun will accept Lee's resignation. Roh was reportedly to make decision after consulting with Prime Minister Lee Hae-chan, who is due to return Saturday from Sri Lanka.

Source: Xinhua