Ambassador to US offers to resign after 3-year tenure

In an unexpected move, Korean Ambassador to the United States Han Duck-soo has offered to step down after serving for three years and President Lee Myung-bak plans to soon accept his resignation, officials said Thursday.

Han made his offer to Lee earlier in the day in Seoul and will return to the U.S. on Friday to convey his farewell to U.S. officials, foreign ministry spokesman Cho Byung-jae told reporters.

The resignation offer by Han came as a surprise because the 63-year-old veteran bureaucrat was widely expected to serve in the post until Lee's term ends early next year.

Han also abruptly canceled his plan to attend an annual gathering of Korean ambassadors, set for next week in Seoul. He was scheduled to hold a press meeting on Feb. 24.

"I have nothing to say about why Han has tendered his resignation," Cho said. Han was not immediately available for comment.

A senior presidential official, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, said, "Han tendered his resignation based on the conclusion that he fulfilled his duties as the Korean ambassador to the U.S."

He has privately stated he would resign after Korea and the U.S. approved the bilateral free trade agreement.

Lawmakers from the two nations endorsed the free trade deal last year and Seoul and Washington are working to finalize the date for the implementation of the accord.

The presidential office has started searching for Han's replacement, the official said.

Potential candidates include top presidential security adviser Chun Yung-woo and Sakong Il, one of Lee's close aides who recently quit from the chief of the nation's top trade association, according to the official.

Han served as a prime minister and a finance minister before he took up the post in February 2009. (Yonhap)