Choi-See-joong

KCC Chairman Choi-See-joong has resigned from his post to take responsibility for a bribery scandal involving his aide.

The KCC chief has been under pressure from the opposition parties and civic groups to step down in relation to bribery allegations involving Choi’s former aide, Jeong Yong-wook. Fresh allegations arose earlier this week that his aide had also bribed some MPs in 2009 to pass  a media law at the National Assembly,  which gave licenses to new cable channels.

These allegations surfaced ahead of elections this year as a blow to President Lee Myung-bak and his conservative ruling party, once seen as sure-fire winners in parliamentary and presidential polls this year, but now lagging behind the left-wing opposition. Lee, in his last year in office, has also been dogged by allegations of corruption by his family members or aides.

Choi has been called Lee’s “political mentor,” having played a key role in his sweeping 2007 election win that ended in two consecutive presidencies.

Choi See-joong has served as the head of the KCC, since President Lee  took office in 2008.