Kim Woo-choong, founder of the bankrupt South Korean Daewoo Group who had been on the run for nearly six years, was arrested upon his arrival at the South Korean Incheon International Airport earlier Tuesday.

The 69-year-old Kim arrived at the airport located just west of Seoul at around 5:30 a.m. Tuesday (2030 GMT Monday) aboard an Asiana flight from Hanoi, Vietnam, and was immediately taken into custody, according to local media reports.

In a written statement issued upon his arrival, the former tycoon delivered his apology for having caused troubles to people over the Daewoo Group problems.

Television footage showed Kim was being escorted out of the airport by prosecutors,surrounded by reporters and protesters.

Local reports said earlier that he would be send to the building of the Supreme Public Prosecutor's Office in southern Seoul to receive special investigation.

The former business conglomerator started his escaping life in October 1999, three months after it was unveiled that the Daewoo Group, which once was South Korea's influential conglomerate, was undergoing total financial failure with debts estimated at 80 trillion won (80 billion US dollars).

In a arrest warrant issued in 2001, the South Korean Supreme Public Prosecutors Office said that Kim authorized window-dressing of the group's accounting of about 41 trillion won (40.8 billion dollars) between 1997 and 1999.

The warrant also said Kim obtained illegal bank loans of 9.3 trillion won (9.2 billion dollars) and was involved in diverting 25 trillion won (24.9 billion dollars) abroad by setting up a secret body -- British Finance Center.

In April, Seoul Supreme Court levied record fines of 23 trillion won (23 billion dollars) against seven former Daewoo executives, and ruled that Kim had been an accomplice in their crimes.

Kim's return triggered controversy in South Korea.

Supporters of Kim, most of whom are former Daewoo executives, appealed that Kim should receive fair treatment as he once made contributions to the country's economy.

Meanwhile, victims of the collapse of Daewoo Group, most of whom are minor shareholders and ordinary employees of the defunct conglomerate, said Kim should be punished heavily for his wrongdoing.

Source: Xinhua