Former Prime Minister Lee Wan-koo appeared before prosecutors Thursday to face questioning over alleged bribery.

Lee is under suspicion of taking 30 million won ($27,000) from a disgraced businessman when he was running for a parliamentary seat in 2013.

The former PM showed up at the Seoul High Prosecutors' Office in southern Seoul at around 10:00 a.m.

"I resigned from the prime minister post due to this scandal," Lee, who quit his job two weeks ago, told reporters before entering the prosecution office.

"Nothing beats the truth in this world," Lee said, adding that he will sincerely respond to prosecutors' questions.

The summons comes after his name was written along with seven other high-profile politicians on a "bribery list" left behind by businessman Sung Wan-jong, who hanged himself last month.

The memo shows sums of money written next to the names of six out of eight politicians, indicating that they were bribed. Most of the eight men, including Lee, are considered close associates of President Park Geun-hye.

No sums of money were written next to Lee's name, but Sung claimed in a newspaper interview just before he committed suicide that he gave 30 million won in cash to Lee while he was running for a parliamentary seat in 2013.

Lee has denied the accusation and said he would give up his life if there is any evidence that he received the money. (Yonhap)