We start with the latest developments on the ongoing bribery scandal...
Prosecutors grilled former Prime Minister Lee Wan-koo for 15 hours on Thursday over allegations he took more than 25-thousand U.S. dollars in illegal political funds from late businessman Sung Woan-jong back in 2013, when he was running in a parliamentary by-election.
Leaving the prosecutors' office in Seoul at roughly one a.m. Friday -- around five hours ago -- Lee told the awaiting horde of reporters that he maintained he did nothing wrong and fully defended his position of innocence.
Lee also denied allegations that he attempted to persuade one of the witnesses to change his testimony.
The witness had told prosecutors that Lee and Sung were together in 2013 during Lee's run for a seat in the National Assembly.
Prosecutors reportedly plan to indict the former prime minister and Gyeongsangnam-do Province Governor Hong Joon-pyo on charges of breaking the political funding law as early as next week.
