Outgoing Prosecutor General Chae Dong-wook said Monday he had dropped a lawsuit against the Chosun Ilbo which reported that he fathered a son in 2002 through an extramarital affair.

The prosecutor stepped down on the day after being embroiled in the scandal triggered by the report.

Last week, Chae filed the suit with Seoul Central District Court to demand the newspaper issue a correction, arguing that the report was totally groundless.

Chae said in a statement that he had cancelled the lawsuit but would continue with taking a paternity DNA test.

“I will instead take a separate, stronger legal measure after the DNA test result comes out to reveal the truth,” Chae said.

Earlier in the day he formerly resigned from the post in a ceremony at the Supreme Public Prosecutors’ Office.

“I want to show my gratitude to my family as I put down the heavy responsibility as prosecutor general,” he said in the ceremony.

“(I) was not the best breadwinner but have been a respectable father and husband,” Chae said.

President Park Geun-hye accepted Chae’s resignation Saturday about two weeks after Chae offered to quit. Chae took office in April for a two-year term.

Justice Minister Hwang Kyo-ahn recommended President Park accept Chae’s resignation as there was “sufficient” evidence supporting the allegations.

Critics and the opposition party claimed that the prosecution’s full-fledged investigation headed by Chae into a presidential election meddling scandal involving the state-run spy agency might have unnerved the presidential office and the ruling party.

The opposition party has denounced the Chae scandal as a government-backed move to oust the top prosecutor for aggressively pursuing the investigation.

Many former top prosecutors have ended their careers in disgrace, resigning or being forced to leave the office before the end of their term.

Former Prosecutor General Han Sang-dae, Chae’s predecessor, also resigned earlier this year over a string of high-profile scandals within the organization.

(From news reports)