Korea's main opposition Minjoo Party of Korea said Thursday it decided to punish one of its lawmakers who has been cited for hiring families and relatives at her office, which sparked considerable public anger.

Rep. Seo Young-kyo is alleged to have hired her own daughter as an intern at her parliamentary office for five months in 2014. Her daughter's salary was sent to the lawmaker in the form of political donations. Seo is also accused of having hired two of her brothers to work for her and handle accounting work.

Such actions have sparked debates on nepotism and conflicts with recent moves by lawmakers to give up their privileges.

"Hiring a family member and receiving political donations from this practice has triggered public outcry," a party ethics official said. He added that the party needs to humbly accept the public's condemnation on this matter.

Minjoo also said it will promptly make a new law that bans lawmakers from hiring relatives as assistants, or receiving donations from his or her staff.

The party will also avoid naming lawmakers to a parliamentary committee that is directly involved with spouses or relatives. Seo currently works on the legislation committee, while her husband works as a lawyer.

The Minjoo Party added that the suspicion that Seo's daughter used her internship background to get into a Seoul-based law school cannot be ignored as well.

The lawmaker said Thursday she will donate her wage this year as an expression of an apology over the latest scandal. Seo added she will accept any punishment handed down by the party, including a possible banishment.

The party is expected to finalize the scope of punishment in the near future. (Yonhap)