Lee Hae-chan, South Korea's PM, resigned from his post in Seoul , March 14, 2006. (Xinhua/Reuters)

    SEOUL, March 14 (Xinhuanet) -- Twenty-one months ago, when Lee Hae-chan took office as South Korea's prime minister, he may not expect his political life will be ended due to his favor of golf games.

    On Tuesday, 54-year-old Lee stepped down from the premier post, paying great price for his hobby.

    Lee has been at a center of criticism since earlier this month for he played golf with a group of businessman on March 1 in Busan, when a nationwide strike of railway workers began. The day is also a public holiday to mark a 1919 mass uprising for independence against Japanese colonial rule.

    Even worse, one of Lee's golf partners was found to have criminal records. The businessman, head of a flourmill company, was reportedly ruled by the Fair Trade Commission to pay 3.5 billion won (3.58 million U.S. dollars) in financial penalty for illegal business activities.

    Local media and opposition parties widely raised the possibility the flour businessman was lobbying the prime minister during the golf game to avoid the penalty. The opposition parties all demanded Lee to step down.

    Controversy intensified after the golf game was found involved betting. Three businessmen in Lee's foursome said the amount of money betted was 400,000 won (410 dollars) and that one of them paid for all the expenses.

    On March 10, the biggest opposition party the Grand National Party (GNP) filed the case to South Korean prosecution, which was reportedly to investigate the allegations in the near future.

    Relevant ethics code bans civil servants from receiving more than 50,000 won (51.5 dollars) in expenses for congratulations and condolences, or entertainment worth more than 30,000 won (309.2 dollars) from business partners.

    The code identifies "entertainment" as including meals, lavish treatment like golf, or services like transportation and accommodation.

    Lee has since made four public apologies for his inconsiderate behavior which caused controversy among local people. But it seemed this time, his apologies did not work.

    It was not the first time for Lee played golf at an "inappropriate time" after inaugurating as prime minister.

    When a huge wildfire devastated an eastern mountainous region, including the thousand-year-old Naksan Temple in Yangyang, and forced several thousands of residents evacuate from the region in April 2005, Lee played golf with friends.

    Lee made his apology before the National Assembly, vowing to be cautious and not to repeat such a blunder.

    However, three months later, he flied to South Korean southern resort island of Jeju for golf games instead of staying in his office when torrential rains pounded the southern part of the country, causing serious damage for local people.

    This time, Lee was blamed by local people not to stay in office to tackle the strike of the state-run railway company's some 17,000 workers, which paralyzed almost the whole transportation system of the country.

    Public opinion became more and more unfavorable for Lee after the latest round of golf game was found to be more than a game. A lot of local citizens expressed their furious over Lee, saying he should not be pardoned this time.

    An opinion poll showed recently, more than 52.8 percent of the respondents said the prime minister should resign.

    Even, the ruling Uri Party also recommended South Korean President Roh Moo-hyun to accept the resignation offer of Lee. Leewas lawmaker of the governing party before nominated by Roh as prime minister.

    Golf is an expensive sport in South Korea. A round of golf costs about 210 dollars. South Korean people, especially the rich and the middle class, show strong favor for the luxury sport.

    Lee's resignation may provide chance for the GNP to gain the upper hand before the May 31 mayoral and gubernatorial elections.

    Both Uri Party and the GNP attached great importance to the drawing local elections.

    Roh has conducted two minor cabinet shakeups since the beginning of 2006, allowing some influential ministers to return to the ruling party to run in the local elections. Enditem