The chief prosecutor of Jejudo Island expressed his willingness Sunday to step down after being accused of committing a lewd act in public.

Kim Soo-chang, the 52-year-old head of the Jeju District Prosecutors’ Office, said he could resign if his position “in any way hinders the investigation to reveal the truth” about the cited allegation.

The prosecutor, however, denied the charges and added that his comments did not mean that he would immediately submit his resignation. 

Kim was taken into custody last Wednesday after local police received reports that a drunken man had unzipped his pants and revealed his penis in front of a female student in her teens around a restaurant in downtown Jeju. According to police, Kim appeared to attempt to flee the scene as they approached but “did not appear to be drunk.”

The suspicion of wrongdoing was fueled when it was revealed that the prosecutor had given a fake name while being questioned by investigators.

He claimed that the police had mistakenly taken him into custody because his clothes were similar to those worn by the actual culprit.

“It is a commonly known fact that I don’t enjoy drinking, but enjoy occasional walks. A patrol car abruptly stopped me while I was taking a walk near the office. I wasn’t drunk and I did not conduct lewd behavior,” he said.

Kim added that he only gave a fake name (of his brother) because the mere fact that a chief prosecutor was taken into custody was enough to bring public shame upon him, regardless of whether or not the charges were legitimate.

Upon hearing the news, the Supreme Prosecutors’ Office in Seoul sent personnel officials to conduct an audit on the matter.

By Yoon Min-sik (minsikyoon@heraldcorp.com)