Park Ki-young stepped down from her newly appointed post to head Science, Technology, and Innovation Office at the Ministry of Science and ICT Friday while claiming that she was “burnt at stake in the media’s witch hunt.”

■ Related : Moon invites criticism with controversial appointment

Park posted on her social media network platform Facebook Saturday, saying that the “media’s witch hunt turned (her) into the (Hwang Woo-suk) scandal’s main culprit” emphasizing she was not the real culprit or accomplice in the case.

“I think it is unfair for me to be named as the leader or active participant in the Hwang Woo-suk scandal just because he forged academic papers during my tenure,” she wrote in her official resignation letter Friday.

She explained in her Facebook post that at the time, the Seoul National University investigation committee did not name her in the Hwang investigation nor summon her as a witness for the trial.

Regarding illicitly putting her name in one of Hwang’s papers, Park said she agreed (to become a co-author) because she did not place enough importance (in the act) to refuse to do so.

She also expressed her “great regret in naming (herself) in the paper without deep thought.”

■ Related: Park apologizes after 11 years but refuses to step down

At the same time, Park criticized the media in a roundabout manner saying that “pursuing a witch hunt based on untrue content is not indicative of a mature, just society.”

Park was head of the ministry’s office, a vice minister-level post, last Monday but resigned from the post on Friday after intensive pressure from scientific and political circles.

Copyright © KBR Unauthorized reproduction, redistribution prohibited