Some of his key confidants, including former top communications regulator Choi See-joong and former vice-minister of Knowledge Economy Park Young-joon, have also been arrested.

Other high-profile Lee associates in trouble include former presidential secretary Kim Hee-jung, former parliamentary speaker Park Hee-tae and former vice-minister of culture Shin Jae-min.

Before he was elected to lead South Korea, Lee was mired in a financial scam that implicated a former colleague at an investment company called BBK.

Critics say the scandals are an ironic juxtaposition to Lee's national drive for a "fair society" and claims that he is leading a "morally perfect" administration, now a subject of much derision, according to Xinhua.

Opposition lawmakers believe the apology was a red herring.

About the broadcaster:

Rosie Tuck is a copy editor at the China Daily website. She was born in New Zealand and graduated from Auckland University of Technology with a Bachelor of Communications studies majoring in journalism and television. In New Zealand she was working as a junior reporter for the New Zealand state broadcaster TVNZ. She is in Beijing on an Asia New Zealand Foundation grant, working as a journalist in the English news department at the China Daily website.

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