South Korea ? South Korea’s prime minister offered to resign today amid mounting opposition criticism for playing golf when he was expected to oversee the government’s response to a railway strike, the president’s spokesman said.

Lee Hae-chan relayed his intention to step down to President Roh Moo-hyun, who just returned from a trip to several African countries, presidential spokesman Kim Man-soo told The Associated Press. Roh will decide on Lee’s fate after receiving a full report on the scandal, Kim said.

Lee has been under fire for golfing March 1, the first day of a nationwide walkout by railway workers.

Lee was off that day, which was a national holiday, but he was heavily criticized because South Koreans expect high-level officials to work overtime during times of crisis. Lee, who took the job in June 2004, has since repeatedly publicly apologized over the incident.