SEOUL - South Korea's chief marine commander has expressed his intent to step down to shoulder responsibility for the recent shooting rampage by a marine, local media reported Thursday.

Yoo Nak-jun, head of the Marine Corps, offered to resign in a meeting with Defense Minister Kim Kwan-jin earlier this week, according to Yonhap News Agency.

The resignation offer came after a 19-year-old marine corporal killed four marines and another in a shooting spree earlier this month on an island base west of Seoul.

Investigators have said Kim suffered psychological problems and had been classified as one in need of special attention due to his behavioral problems.

Yoo told Kim that he is "doing his best" to handle the aftermath of the deadly incident and bring changes to the hierarchical culture of the Marine Corps, according to Yonhap.

It is yet to be known whether the defense minister will accept the resignation offer.