Lotte founder hospitalized amid corruption probe

Lotte founder Shin Kyuk-ho was admitted into another hospital in eastern Seoul, an official familiar with the issue said Saturday.

The 93-year-old was moved to Asan Medical Center earlier in the day from Seoul National University Hospital where he had been admitted since June 9 due to high fever, said the official close to Shin Dong-joo, the founder's eldest son.

The official said there was medical opinion that the founder needs more recovery time due to his old age and his family made the request to transfer him to Asan Medical Center.

It remains unclear why his family made the request for the transfer.

Seoul National University Hospital and Asan Medical Center are among the top medical centers in South Korea.

The transfer came as prosecutors have widened their probe into the South Korea's fifth-largest conglomerate on suspicions of embezzlement and creating slush funds through dubious deals with affiliates and companies with links to the owner family. (Yonhap)