In an Irish-style financial scandal, South Korea's environment minister was forced to resign yesterday because of a public outcry over her acceptance of a cash donation from businessmen.
However, in contrast to the secrecy which surrounds gifts of money to Irish politicians, the donation of $20,000 (£15,000) to the minister, Ms Son Sook (55), was made on stage before an applauding audience.
It happened when the former actress went to Moscow after her appointment in May to fulfill an engagement with her theatre group to perform in a play called Mother. The money was handed over on the stage of a Moscow national theatre on May 30th by Mr Son Byung-doo, executive vice-chairman of the Federation of Korean Industries, on behalf of a group of businessmen.
The federation is a lobbying group for many enterprises with which Ms Son might come into conflict on pollution issues. It said the gift was an expression of encouragement for local theatrical people and was put together by 10 South Korean businessmen visiting Moscow with President Kim Dae-jung of South Korea.
Some theatrical officials defended the minister, arguing that accepting money after a drama performance has been a long tradition. After the incident was reported in the South Korean media, Ms Son protested that she had accepted the money "as an actress, not as a minister".
"I received the money, just perceiving it as encouragement," she said. "I donated $5,000 of the money to a Seoul theatre and another $5,000 to other performers. The remainder is being held in trust by a drama troupe official."
Several civic organisations criticised her actions, however, and demanded she resign. An environment ministry spokesman quoted the minister yesterday as saying she would quit "in order to ease the burden of the one who appointed me to this position".
Ms Son is a long-time supporter of President Kim. Her departure comes two weeks after the president sacked his justice minister on reports that the prosecutor's office had instigated a strike at the state-run mint when the minister was prosecutor-general.
President Kim appointed Dr Kim Myung-ja, a chemistry professor at Seoul's Sookmyung Women's University, as his new environment minister.
Ms Son justified her decision to continue acting after her appointment by saying she had made an agreement with a Moscow theatre and that the tour would help international relations.