SKorean Air Force chief of staff resigns amid golf scandal

SEOUL, South Korea: South Korea's air force chief of staff resigned Wednesday after local media criticized him for playing golf while the nation mourned the death of a South Korean soldier in Afghanistan.

President Roh Moo-hyun accepted the resignation offer by Kim Sung-il, according to presidential spokesman Yoon Seong-yong.

Kim offered his resignation to the defense minister on Sunday to take responsibility for a recent spate of incidents, including the crash of a KF-16 fighter jet, the ministry said in a statement

"I sincerely apologize to the public for having caused trouble regarding the golf" incident, Kim was quoted as saying in the statement. He also expressed regret over the fighter jet crash last month that the ministry has blamed on poor maintenance. The pilot ejected and survived.

Local media reported earlier Wednesday that Kim had played a round of golf on March 1 — a national holiday that coincided with the mourning period for a soldier who was killed in a suicide bombing late last month in Afghanistan.

South Korea has deployed some 200 troops, mostly engineers and medics, to help rebuild the war-ravaged country.

Kim assumed the top Air Force job in October 2005.

Kim is not the first South Korean official forced to step down over an ill-timed round of golf.

Last year, Lee Hae-chan resigned as prime minister for golfing during a nationwide walkout by railway workers. He had been criticized the previous year for hitting the links during a wildfire and heavy rains.

Golf is popular among rich Koreans, who spend vast amounts on lessons, green fees and golf vacations.