"Nothing can beat the truth," Lee told reporters as he turned up at the main prosecutors' office in Seoul in response to a summons.
"I will tell my side of the story in detail to prosecutors... And hope that this all will be resolved," he said.
Lee stepped down as prime minister after being accused of taking 30 million won (USD 27,400) in bribes.
The accusation was made by businessman Sung Wan-Jong, who later committed suicide.
All those implicated, including Lee, have denied the allegations.
Bribery scandals involving politicians and rich businessmen have been a fixture of South Korean politics for decades.
Two former presidents served prison terms for taking bribes and dozens of heads of major business groups have been convicted of forming slush funds to lobby politicians.
After accepting Lee's resignation as prime minister, President Park vowed reforms to "root out prevalent, deep-rooted corruption".
You’ve reached your limit of {{free_limit}} free articles this month.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
Already subscribed? Log in
Subscribe to read the full story →
Smart Quarterly
₹900
3 Months
₹300/Month
Smart Essential
₹2,700
1 Year
₹225/Month
Super Saver
₹3,900
2 Years
₹162/Month
Renews automatically, cancel anytime
Here’s what’s included in our digital subscription plans
Exclusive premium stories online
Over 30 premium stories daily, handpicked by our editors


Complimentary Access to The New York Times
News, Games, Cooking, Audio, Wirecutter & The Athletic
Business Standard Epaper
Digital replica of our daily newspaper — with options to read, save, and share


Curated Newsletters
Insights on markets, finance, politics, tech, and more delivered to your inbox
Market Analysis & Investment Insights
In-depth market analysis & insights with access to The Smart Investor


Archives
Repository of articles and publications dating back to 1997
Ad-free Reading
Uninterrupted reading experience with no advertisements


Seamless Access Across All Devices
Access Business Standard across devices — mobile, tablet, or PC, via web or app
