Two Samsung execs offer to resign amid corruption scandal

Two senior Samsung Group executives have offered to resign to take responsibility for the company's involvement in the graft scandal involving South Korean President Park Geun-hye, Yonhap news agency said on Friday, without citing sources.

The report said Vice Chairman Choi Gee-sung and President Chang Choong-gi have offered to resign. Both executives were identified as suspects by the South Korean special prosecution in a graft probe that led to Samsung Group leader Jay Y. Lee's arrest last week.

Lee is accused of paying 43 billion won (€36 million) in bribes Choi Soon-sil, a friend of the President in addition to embezzlement and perjury.

Geun-hye was impeached by parliament and is waiting to see if the move will be upheld by law courts – if so she will be South Korea’s first democratically elected leader to be forced from office.

Yonhap did not say whether the executives have formally submitted their resignation or whether they will remain with the conglomerate in some other capacity.

Samsung Group did not immediately comment on the report.