A senior secretary to former President Lee Myung-bak is under investigation for allegedly exerting undue pressure on government agencies during the Lee administration, a media report said Wednesday.

The former official, whose identity has been withheld, is suspected of having coerced ministries, including the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, into favoring certain people and organizations when planning government projects and policies, a local newspaper reported, citing an official at the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office.

Lee was in office from 2008 to 2013.

Prosecutors reportedly haven't ruled out the possibility that bribery was involved. They are compiling intelligence related to the allegations and reviewing relevant laws, the newspaper reported.

A prosecution official denied a request for comment. (Yonhap)