Seoul, South Korea ? President Roh Moo-hyun accepted the resignation of his prime minister Tuesday after the premier set off a scandal by playing golf during a national railway strike.

Lee Hae-chan came under pressure to leave after his golf outing on a March 1 national holiday that coincided with the start of the walkout. His departure was delayed while Roh was on a trip to Africa, but he offered to step down Tuesday when the president returned.

Roh accepted Lee’s resignation after ruling party leaders urged him to defuse the scandal ahead of local elections in May.

It wasn’t the first time Lee was caught with clubs in hand when critics said he should have been behind his desk.

He was golfing in April 2005 when a wildfire destroyed a 1,300-year-old Buddhist temple. And he was rounding the greens in July when heavy rains struck southern parts of the country.

Adding to Lee’s woes this time were his golfing pals, who included a businessman with a criminal record for rigging stock prices.

The main opposition Grand National Party filed a complaint with prosecutors claiming Lee could have received requests for favors from the businessmen.