Prime Minster Lee Hae-chan on Sunday apologized for last week"s controversial golf incident, hinting at his possible resignation over the scandal, an aide to Lee said.

``I feel regret for causing trouble for the public due to my inconsiderate behavior,"" Lee was quoted as saying by his press secretary Lee Kang-jin. ``I"ll decide whether I must resign or not, after President Roh Moo-hyun finishes his state visits to African nations.""

Roh will decide whether to accept the premier"s offer to resign or not after his Africa trip, Chong Wa Dae officials said.

Premier Lee called Roh Saturday night, expressing his willingness to make a public apology, the secretary said.

Lee reportedly played golf, which is still considered an extravagant sport here, last Wednesday instead of attending a ceremony to mark the 87th anniversary of the March 1 Independence Movement against Japanese colonial rule.

After local media reported Lee played golf at a club in Pusan, along with local businessmen including some who were convicted of bribery or stock market manipulation in the past, the premier faced more aggravated public anger.

Lee"s inappropriate golf game coincided with a large-scale rail workers" strike, which temporarily paralyzed parts of the nation"s transportation system, causing significant public inconvenience.

Rep. Lee Jae-oh, floor leader of the main opposition Grand National Party (GNP), welcomed the premier"s apology.

``It seems a bit late for Prime Minister Lee to apologize to the public, but it"s better than nothing. He should have taken political responsibility for his wrong behavior earlier,"" the GNP floor leader said. ``We"ve found out that one of those who played golf with Lee had a wife, who is serving prison time for a brutal homicide case.""

He also urged President Roh to accept what he claimed was the premier"s determination to resign, warning the GNP could cooperate with other opposition parties to file a motion for Lee"s dismissal from his post if the president is reluctant to sack the premier.

``President Roh should be aware of the fact that the governing party holds less than a majority at the National Assembly,"" he added. The governing Uri Party controls 143 legislators in the 299-member unicameral legislature.

Chung Dong-young, chairman of the governing Uri Party, said, ``It"s not appropriate for me to talk about whether Premier Lee should maintain his position or not, but I believe he made a decision to be humble to the public.""

Chung emphasized that Uri Party officials and the government would be more careful not to cause any trouble with inappropriate behavior.

Rep. Lee Sang-yul, spokesman of the minor opposition Democratic Party (DP), denounced Premier Lee for postponing his resignation until after President Roh returns from his Africa visit.

``The prime minister should step down from his post immediately and return to the Uri Party,"" the DP spokesman said. ``As he played golf with some businessmen who provided slush funds to the governing party and the GNP in the past, the premier should not hesitate to pay back some 11.9 billion won ($120 million) that the Uri Party has delayed paying back for illicit slush funds after the presidential election in 2002.""

In April last year, Premier Lee faced similar trouble after it became known he played golf on Arbor Day while a big forest fire was spreading through Kangwon Province.

Last July, Lee again stirred controversy by playing golf on Cheju Island while torrential rains devastated the nation"s southern region.

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