Just one month after arresting President Kim Dae-jung's youngest son, Republic of Korea prosecutors yesterday ordered another of his three sons to appear for questioning over an alleged influence-peddling scandal.
A series of scandals involving sons of the president and government officials has hurt Kim's political party, which was defeated in most of the prominent races in local elections last week.
Kim has not been implicated in any scandal, and has apologized repeatedly to the nation.
Prosecutors were investigating whether Kim Hong-up, the president's second son, received 2 billion won (US$1.5 million) in bribes from several companies in return for peddling influence, a state prosecutor in Seoul said on condition of anonymity.
Kim Hong-up, a former executive of a research center that was founded by his father to promote Korean reunification, was ordered to appear for questioning tomorrow. He has denied any wrongdoing and planned to respond to the summons, the local Yonhap news agency said.
In a statement, the opposition Grand National Party welcomed the summons and demanded a "stern and prompt" investigation.
In a separate case, the youngest of the president, Kim Hong-gul was arrested on May 18 on charges of taking US$2.8 million in bribes in exchange for influence-peddling. He is awaiting trial.
(Agencies via Xinhua News Agency June 18, 2002)
