New York: South Korea's consul general in New York, Kim Euy-whan, has offered his resignation amidst growing criticism from the opposition party in Seoul concerning his alleged personal ties to first lady Kim Keon Hee. In a statement released to the media on Wednesday, Kim stated that he had already submitted his resignation to the foreign ministry on October 26, following intense scrutiny during a parliamentary audit. According to Yonhap News Agency, Kim has denied that his connection to the first lady influenced his appointment as consul general, describing the accusations from the main opposition Democratic Party (DP) as "groundless political attack" and "false propaganda." Kim expressed that he avoided responding to the DP's accusations initially, considering them not worthwhile, but he now views the situation as a burden on both the foreign ministry and the government. Kim further explained that the continued allegations have led him to the conclusion that he can no longer serve as consul general. A fo reign ministry official in Seoul, however, declined to confirm Kim's resignation, citing personnel policies. The Democratic Party has claimed that Kim's appointment to the consul general position resulted from his personal ties to the first lady, which reportedly began over a decade ago. During the parliamentary audit, Rep. Han Jeoung-ae alleged that Kim's acquaintance with the first lady began around 2010 through a private forum, during her tenure as the head of a cultural content company. Earlier this year, Kim was at the center of another controversy following his public criticism of a speech at a New York event, which addressed the historical view of South Korea's national foundation day. The debate revolves around whether the provisional government established on April 11, 1919, or the government formed on August 15, 1948, should be recognized as the national foundation day. Kim condemned the speech, labeling it "nonsense," and called for action against "pro-North Korean leftist forces" in South Korea. Kim, who was appointed as consul general in December 2022, has a background in public service, having held senior positions at South Korea's anti-corruption and civil rights commission.