Kim's son to be summoned again

Kim's son to be summoned again

SEOUL (Reuter): South Korean state prosecutors will again summon President Kim Young-Sam's son for questioning in connection with a probe into a scandal involving the younger Kim, a prosecution official said yesterday.

The official confirmed a report by state-run Korean Broadcasting System (KBS) television that Kim Hyun-chul would be summoned by 2 p.m. (0500 GMT) today.

He declined to give any more information.

KBS reported prosecutors had discovered Kim Hyun-chul, the president's second son, had managed more than 20 billion won ($22.4 million) in illicit funds, part of which came from several companies run by his associates.

Kim Hyun-chul has denied allegations he took kickbacks from companies in return for influence-peddling and that he meddled in state affairs.

He was questioned by prosecutors in February but cleared of any wrongdoing in connection with a loans-for-kickbacks scandal uncovered by the collapse in January of Hanbo Steel Co.

Hanbo, the nation's second-largest steelmaker, folded after piling up five trillion won ($5.8 billion) in loans, revealing a web of corrupt alliances between politicians, businessmen and bankers.

Eleven people, including ruling and opposition party lawmakers, top aides to President Kim, bankers and Hanbo founder Chung Tae-soo, are on trial for bribery.

Prosecutors have said they could not find any link between Kim Hyun-chul and Hanbo but had secured enough evidence to charge him this month for "irregularities unrelated to Hanbo".