President Lee Myung-bak apologized to the nation Tuesday over a string of bribery scandals involving his former aides and his elder brother-cum-political mentor.
"Fellow Koreans, disgraceful incidents have recently happened to my family and surroundings and caused so much anxiety to people," Lee said during a nationally-televised address with a stern expression on his face.
"I bow my head and extend my apology for causing anxiety to people due to these incidents," Lee said.
Lee's final year of presidency saw some of his close aides jailed for money-for-influence scandals. In the latest blow to his waning presidency, an elder brother, Lee Sang-deuk, was arrested on July 11 on suspicions of receiving more than a half million dollars from two troubled savings banks.
Prosecutors have been widely expected to indict the elder Lee on Thursday or Friday. The elder Lee, a former six-term lawmaker and considered the most powerful figure behind the Lee administration, has been accused of receiving the money from the savings banks Solomon and Mirae in return for influencing authorities who were investigating the banks.
President Lee Myung-bak apologized to the nation Tuesday over a string of bribery scandals involving his former aides and his elder brother-cum-political mentor, marking the sixth public apology during his single five-year term.
"Fellow Koreans, disgraceful incidents have recently happened to my family and surroundings and caused so much anxiety to people," Lee said in nationally televised remarks with a stern expression on his face.
"I bow my head and extend my apology for causing anxiety to people due to these incidents," Lee said, without mentioning the names of his elder brother and former aides involved in the corruption scandals.
Lee's final year of his presidency saw some of his close aides jailed for money-for-influence scandals. In the latest blow to his waning presidency, an elder brother, Lee Sang-deuk, was arrested on July 11 on suspicions of receiving more than a half million dollars from two troubled savings banks.
Tuesday's apology had been unscheduled, and presidential officials said earlier in the day that Lee would offer a public apology this week as soon as prosecutors press charges against his elder brother. Lee's single term ends next February, and by law he cannot seek re-election.
"I had thought that it would be appropriate for me to wait for the results of the investigation by the prosecution, but I stand here before you because I judged that it is my minimum duty to pour out my heart to the people ahead of the results," Lee said.
Lee said he will "take full responsibility" for the graft scandals, but make it clear that he will not let his grip on power slip and stall policymaking.
"Situations in and out of the country are so urgent, so I can never neglect my duties as president," Lee said.
The pre-trial imprisonment of the elder Lee marked the first time since South Korea's 1948 foundation that a brother of a sitting president has been arrested.
Prosecutors are also investigating into whether the elder Lee used the bribes for the 2007 presidential election campaign for President Lee.
The apology was Lee's sixth during his five-year term. In 2008, he apologized to the nation twice over massive street protests following a decision to resume imports of U.S. beef.
In 2009 and last year, he offered an apology each over a decision to call off a plan to move parts of the government out of Seoul to a new administrative town and for breaking a promise to construct a major airport in the southeastern region. Last February, Lee apologized for corruption scandals involving his aides. (Yonhap)