SEOUL. Feb 1: The government fired six prosecutors and reprimanded 19 others Monday in a major corruption scandal rocking South Korea's judicial system. report s AP.

Five judges also faced investigation and possible punishment for alleged involvement in the scandal. They were suspected of receiving payoffs in return for introducing clients to a lawyer.

Apologising for the scandal. Prosecutor General Kim Tae-jung said his office will launch a massive anti-corruption campaign in the nation's prosecution system. The scandal came to fight in early January when a disgruntled aide to lawyer in the central city of Taejon passed to the press a list ol hundreds of prosecutors, judges, police arid court offi-

cials who allegedly received bribes.

The lawyer. Lee Jong-ki. was arrested on charges pi corruption. Prosecutors say he admitted that he had paid 118 million won (dlrs 98,000) in payoffs to about 100 government, court and prison officials who .introduced 202 clients to him between 1994 and 1997.

Also arrested were six low-ranking prosecution officials, charged with receiving more the 3 million won (dlrs 2,500) each from the lawyer hi payoffs.

Most of those on the list received small amounts and their cases were dismissed. The 25 prosecutors sacked or reprimanded Monday were found to have received more than 1 million won (dlrs 833) each from the lawyer