The Seoul District Public Prosecutor's Office has summoned former Ambassador to the United States Hong Seok-hyun over the wiretap scandal.

The office on Friday said its seeks to clear suspicion that the Samsung Group gave illegal donations to the 1997 presidential election and that the conglomerate tried to take over Kia Motors the same year.

National intelligence illegally bugged a 1997 conversation between Hong and Lee Hak-soo, vice chairman of the Samsung Group.

Prosecutors have ordered Hong to return to Seoul as soon as possible to cooperate with the investigation. He recently resigned as envoy after being implicated in the scandal.

A prosecution summons for Samsung Group Chairman Lee Kun-hee will depend on the results of Hong's interrogation.

Earlier this week, the Supreme Prosecutor's Office sent Hong a questionnaire on the charges against him.

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