(MENAFN- Qatar News Agency) Oul june 24 (qna) - south korea's prime minister nominee moon chang-keuk has resigned from his candidacy.
in a televised news conference tuesday morning at the seoul government complex moon announced his resignation saying he can only help president park geun-hye by resigning.
the 65-year old former journalist stressed that it was an unavoidable choice for him. moon said he wanted to help the president reform the nation and unify the country but his nomination caused more conflicts in korean society. he added he was concerned if he would be a stumbling block to the president's efforts according to korea's (kbs world) website.
the decision came amid fierce political debate over his past writings and lectures.
during tuesday's news conference the former journalist also criticized lawmakers and other politicians who called for his resignation. he said the national assembly was required to give him a proper chance to stand for a confirmation hearing calling it a due process legislated by lawmakers themselves.
he also blamed news agencies for filing reports on his lectures that he claimed misconstrued his expressions out of their general context and intentions. moon said that journalists must report not just the facts but the truth.
he also used the opportunity to defend himself from accusations that he is pro-japanese revealing his grandfather's legacy as an independence fighter.
moon's resignation came 14 days after he was named to replace prime minister chung hong-won who offered to step down to take responsibility over the deadly ferry disaster in april.
the resignation marks the second time south korea's president park geun-hye's choice for the next prime minister gave up candidacy since the current cabinet chief's offer to resign. in late may park's first choice ahn dae-hee gave up his candidacy amid criticisms that the former judge made an enormous income in the private sector just after retiring from public service. (qna)
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