(LEAD) presidential chief of staff-resignation

▲ This file photo, taken Sept. 13, 2026, shows presidential chief of staff Kang Hoon-sik (L) speaking in a meeting also attended by Prime Minister Han Seong-sook (R). (Yonhap)

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SEOUL, Sept. 21 (Yonhap) -- Presidential chief of staff Kang Hoon-sik has offered to resign, Cheong Wa Dae press secretary said Monday, following the back-to-back withdrawals of two minister nominees over controversies surrounding their qualifications.

"Chief of staff Kang tendered his resignation to President Lee Jae Myung this morning," presidential secretary for public relations Seong Ghi-hong told a press briefing, without providing a reason for Kang's resignation offer.

Kang's move came as President Lee's approval ratings fell to their lowest points in recent weeks and after Cheong Wa Dae came under fire for the withdrawals of nominees for justice and gender equality ministers amid allegations of irregularities.

A presidential official said on condition of anonymity that Kang took the action to hold himself accountable as Lee's chief of staff after the president repeatedly acknowledged his own "shortcomings" regarding public sentiment during last week's press conference.

Addressing his declining approval ratings, Lee said during Friday's press conference that he had come to realize "the public is always right" and that all problems were due to his "own shortcomings."

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