President Lee Jae-myung approved the dismissal of Minister of Oceans and Fisheries Jeon Jae-su on Friday.
"President Lee has approved the dismissal of Minister Jeon," the Presidential Office spokesperson's office said in a media notice.
Jeon becomes the first sitting minister to step down since the current administration took office.
Earlier, some media outlets reported that the special counsel team led by Min Joong-ki obtained testimony from Yoon Young-ho, former head of the Unification Church's world headquarters, stating that he provided tens of millions of won to Minister Jeon, including two watches.
In response, Jeon met with reporters Friday morning and denied the allegations, calling them "absurd and completely groundless."
However, he expressed his intention to resign, saying, "Stepping down from the ministerial position and responding with dignity is the proper conduct for a public official."
