One story dominating the news today... and that's the man known simply as "MB" to Koreans.
Prosecutors have wrapped up their questioning of former president Lee Myung-bak on a slew of corruption and bribery allegations.
It's now a nervous wait for the ex-leader as it seems almost certain the prosecution will seek a warrant for his arrest given the mountain of evidence they've built up against him.
Oh Jung-hee reports.
After 21 hours at the prosecution complex,... former President Lee Myung-bak headed out of the building early Thursday morning.
On his way out,... he didn't make any special remarks to the press,... but left a brief good-bye to prosecution officials.
"Thank you for the hard work."
The former president arrived at the prosecutors' office Wednesday morning, a little before 9:30 a.m.,... and the interrogation began at around ten.
It lasted for 14 hours and ended just before midnight,... but Lee had to wait several more hours for prosecutors to review the interrogation record.
He faces around 20 allegations including bribery, embezzlement and abuse of power.
Lee was questioned on the auto parts manufacturing company DAS,... through which, prosecutors say, Lee created slush funds,... and which he allegedly holds the largest stake in... under false names.
Lee was also asked about using state power for a lawsuit in the U.S. that involved DAS,... and about receiving money from Samsung for that lawsuit,... as well as him and his aides receiving illicit money from the nation's intelligence agency and other businesses.
According to the prosecutors, Lee seemed perplexed and surprised when they showed him specific pieces of evidence on his charges.
But, he still denied most of the allegations,... and prosecutors say there's basically no single allegation Lee admits to being guilty of.
His answers during the questioning were mostly "I don't know" or "my officials or aides must have done it."
Prosecutors do not plan on calling him in again... because Lee is a former president.
"Considering that Lee denies all the allegations and so, could try to destroy evidence,... there's a greater voice within the prosecution... that an arrest warrant has to be sought for the former president. It's expected... that the decision could be made in the coming days, possibly even before the weekend. Oh Jung-hee, Arirang News."
