South Korean nominee for Prime Minister Moon Chang-keuk speaks during a news conference in Seoul on Tuesday after withdrawing his name from consideration following mounting criticism over his alleged pro-Japanese remarks in the past. | AP

President Park Geun-hye had nominated former senior journalist Moon Chang-keuk to replace the current prime minister who offered to resign to take responsibility for April’s deadly ferry disaster.

But Moon has been under fire after media reported that he called Japan’s colonial rule of the Korean Peninsula God’s will and made other controversial remarks in past speeches.

Japan colonized Korea from 1910-45 and many older Koreans still hold strong feelings of resentment against Japan.

Moon said in a televised news conference Tuesday that his past comments were taken out of context but he’s voluntarily withdrawing so he does not pose a further political burden to Park.

His nomination had to be approved by the National Assembly. Moon had said he wanted to prove that he does not have pro-Japanese and other historically controversial views at a parliamentary hearing. Moon said he and his family have been hurt deeply by the allegations that he is a pro-Japanese figure.

Park said she regretted that Moon would not get a chance to have a parliamentary hearing.

Moon’s withdrawal deals another blow to Park as her first choice for the job also withdrew last month after facing criticism over alleged ethical lapses.

Park has been pushing to reshuffle top officials and reorganize some government offices in a bid to restore public confidence following the ferry sinking that left more than 300 people dead or missing. Most of the victims were high school students.

On Tuesday, divers retrieved the body of a woman from the sunken ferry, increasing the death toll to 293, a government task force said in a statement. Eleven others are still missing.