"Yesterday, President Lee called the prime minister into Cheong Wa Dae (the presidential office) and asked him to continue to do his work" regardless of the election outcome, presidential spokesman Park Sun-kyoo said at a hurriedly arranged press briefing in Singapore. Lee is visiting the city state to address the Shangri-La Dialogue, an annual security forum.
Chung did not express an intention to resign, Park added.
Lee's Grand National Party (GNP) suffered a crushing defeat in Wednesday's elections that picked mayors, governors, councilors and education chiefs.
GNP leader Chung Mong-joon and the presidential chief of staff, Chung Chung-kil, offered to resign to take responsibility.
A Seoul-based broadcaster reported earlier Friday that the prime minister also expressed his intent to step down.
Cheong Wa Dae, however, did not elaborate on how long the president plans to keep the prime minister in his post.
Many expect Lee to carry out a major shake-up of his Cabinet and senior secretaries for a fresh start as his five-year term nears a turning point.//Yonhap
reporter
Park Sae-jin
swatchsjp@ajunews.com