The government said Friday it will request the prosecution to investigate a former president and professors of a local university over allegations they gave unlawful favors to the daughter of President Park Geun-hye's close friend.

The Ministry of Education said it detected a string of illicit favors that Ewha Womans University gave Chung Yoo-ra, ranging from college admission to academic affairs, wrapping up its two-week special inspection. Chung is the daughter of Choi Soon-sil, who is at the center of a political scandal rocking the country, and a former member of the national equestrian team.

The ministry launched a special audit into the university on Oct. 31 with 15 agents after it detected irregularities in Chung's academic affairs.

According to its findings, a panel of professors allegedly ignored a string of school regulations to help Chung get admitted. They are accused of even giving Chung high scores in the interview to help cover low marks on her submitted documents. Two other students who had higher scores on their submitted documents were intentionally given lower points in the process, the ministry said.

Irregularities continued after Chung entered the university, with a professor even doing assignments for her, the ministry said.

The ministry plans to demand the school revoke Chung's admission based on the findings.

It will also seek a prosecutorial probe or other administrative measures for 18 employees at the university, including former President Choi Kyung-hee.

Choi, 54, resigned last month in the wake of growing criticism from the university's faculty and students. Still, the ministry said she has flatly denied the allegations that she directed the professors to give Chung special treatment.

The ministry said it also plans to cut government funding on eight of the university's projects. It received a total of 18.5 billion won ($15.6 million) for the projects this year, the ministry said.

"We definitely feel responsible for (failing to properly) monitor the university," said Education Minister Lee Joon-sik during a press briefing held at the government complex in Seoul.

"We are planning to advance the implementation of measures we prepared in March to root out corruption in college admissions." (Yonhap)