SEOUL, July 24: South Korean President Lee Myung-Bak apologised to the nation on Tuesday for what he called heartbreaking corruption cases allegedly involving his elder brother and close aides.

“I bow my head and apologise for causing concern to the people due to these incidents,” a solemn Lee said in brief televised remarks.

“It breaks my heart... that such regrettable things have happened among people so close to me.” The incidents have tarnished the conservative leader’s image in the last year of his five-year term.

Hours after his remarks, prosecutors arrested two of his former close aides, Kim Hee-Jung and Kim Se-Wook, on suspicion of taking bribes from the chairmen of troubled banks in exchange for assistance, according to the official Yonhap news agency.

Kim Hee-Jung, 44, Lee’s former presidential secretary for personal affairs, is under investigation for allegedly accepting around 100 million won ($87,000) in kickbacks from Solomon Savings Bank chairman Lim Suk.

Kim Se-Wook, 58, is suspected of receiving two gold bars, each worth around 60 million won, from Mirae Savings Bank chief Kim Chan-Kyong.

Both chairmen are already being held in custody on charges including bribery.

A presidential election will be held in December but Mr Lee is constitutionally barred from seeking a second term.

Analysts said the graft cases would have only a limited effect on the electoral fortunes of his New Frontier Party.

“This wouldn’t have any significant impact on the election, because the party has distanced itself from the president, as if they are not related to each other at all,” Professor Lee Junhan at Incheon University said before the latest arrests.

Mr Lee’s elder brother Lee Sang-Deuk was arrested and detained earlier this month pending a corruption trial.

The 76-year-old former lawmaker is charged with taking 600 million won ($525,000) in bribes between 2007 and 2011, also for helping the chairmen of troubled banks avoid auditing measures and punishment.

Angry bank depositors had hurled eggs at him when he arrived at court the previous day for questioning.

Lee Sang-Deuk was seen as the main contributor to his brother’s election victory in 2007, playing the role of a trouble-shooter behind the scenes.

But critics said he tried to wield too much influence over state affairs once his brother came to power.

Several of the president's closest aides, including a former top communications official Choi See-Jung, a former vice culture minister Shin Jae-Min and an ex-knowledge economy vice minister Park Young-Joon, have also been arrested on graft charges.

Mr Lee’s three immediate presidential predecessors — Roh Moo-Hyun, Kim Dae-Jung and Kim Young-Sam — were also tarnished by the wrongdoing of close relatives.

In May 2009, Mr Roh committed suicide by throwing himself off a cliff after he was questioned as a suspect in a multi-million dollar corruption case.

Mr Roh apologised for his family’s involvement but did not admit personal wrongdoing.

Mr Lee has made several previous public apologies during his time in office.

“He took a step forward because the apology was needed for the party, for himself and for the people,” said Professor Lee.

“However, he will need a bigger apology if the investigation (into his brother) turns out to be true.

“It would have been better if he had urged that the investigation proceed transparently, on top of the apology he made.”—AFP