A former vice economic minister with close ties to President Lee Myung-bak appeared before prosecutors Wednesday for questioning over allegations he took hundreds of thousands of dollars in bribes in exchange for influence peddling in a construction project five years ago.

Park Young-june, who played a key role in Lee's 2007 election campaign, is the second high-level aide to come under prosecutors' investigation on suspicion of accepting bribes from a property developer who sought a construction permit for a major trade center in southern Seoul.

Choi See-joong, a former government communications regulator known as Lee's political mentor, was arrested Monday after he admitted to receiving hundreds of thousands of dollars from the developer, Lee Jeong-bae. Choi initially said the cash had been used to cover the cost of conducting opinion polls during the president's election campaign, but he later reversed his remarks, saying it had been used for private purposes.

Arriving at the Supreme Prosecutors' Office in Seoul, the 52-year-old Park said, "I will faithfully undergo the prosecution's investigation."

He also shook his head and said, "No," when reporters asked him if he received money from the developer or asked the Seoul municipal government to issue the permit on his behalf.

Prosecutors said they expect to question Park until late in the day, and then consider requesting a warrant to arrest him.

They also said they have found evidence through tracing bank accounts, which suggests Park received the cash from a broker with close ties to the developer. The broker, who has been arrested in connection with the case, allegedly sent the money to the corporate account of a businessman named Lee Dong-jo for delivery to Park.

Prosecutors have also questioned several officials at the Seoul municipal government.

The scandal has dealt another blow to President Lee, whose image has been seriously tarnished by a series of corruption scandals involving high-level aides. His single five-year term ends early next year and by law, he cannot seek re-election.

Park was recently embroiled in a stock manipulation scandal related to a diamond mining project in Cameroon. He is also at the center of recently renewed allegations the government conducted illegal surveillance on civilians in the past. (Yonhap)