Fugitive Daewoo boss to fly home

Kim Woo-Choong was Daewoo's chairman and founder

The fugitive ex-boss of Daewoo Group will return to South Korea on Tuesday and plans to surrender to prosecutors, according to the South Korean media.

Kim Woo-Choong fled abroad six years ago after Daewoo Group, one of South Korea's biggest conglomerates, collapsed with debts of $80bn.

Seven other former Daewoo executives were found guilty of fraud, and Mr Kim could face similar charges.

He is expected to arrive at Incheon International Airport from Vietnam.

"It is up to the prosecutors what happens but he will be ready to give himself up to them," Baik Kee-Seung, a spokesman for Mr Kim, was quoted by the Agence France Presse news agency as saying.

The Daewoo conglomerate's best known subsidiary, Daewoo Motors, is now owned by US carmaker General Motors.

Mr Kim's whereabouts have been a mystery, though there have been reports of him living in Vietnam and Europe.

Mr Baik said the 69-year-old tycoon was in poor health.