President Park Geun-hye accepted on Saturday the resignation of the country's top prosecutor, the presidential office said.

Park accepted the resignation by Prosecutor General Chae Dong-wook, who allegedly fathered a son in an extramarital affair in 2002, on concerns that a prolonged absence of a top prosecutor is feared to hamper operations of the prosecution, according to an official at the presidential office.

"President Park had wanted Chae to reveal the truth by himself and cooperate with a probe (into the scandal). But he did not," senior presidential press secretary Lee Jung-hyun told reporters on Saturday.

"A lengthy absence in the chief prosecutor post is feared to prevent the prosecution from carrying out its roles. That's why President Park accepted the resignation."

Chae had tendered his resignation on Sept. 12 shortly after Justice Minister Hwang Kyo-ahn ordered an internal investigation into his alleged affair. The investigation on the incumbent prosecutor general, the first of its kind, came at a critical time when the prosecution had been investigating an election meddling scandal.

Earlier this week, Chae sued the Chosun Ilbo, demanding that the newspaper correct the reports that he allegedly had a son from the affair.  


From news reports