South Korean prosecutors will soon seek an arrest warrant for a key opposition lawmaker as he has repeatedly snubbed requests to appear for questioning over bribery allegations, local media reported Friday.

Park Jie-won, floor leader of South Korea's main opposition Democratic United Party, defied the third and what local reports say would be the last request by prosecutors to show up.

The three-term lawmaker is suspected of taking some 100 million won (87,800 U.S. dollars) from a troubled local savings bank in illegal political funds before the 2008 general elections.

The influence-peddling scandal has implicated a handful of high- ranking government officials and ruling Saenuri Party heavyweights, leading to the detention of some including President Lee Myung-bak 's elder brother Lee Sang-deuk.

Park has rejected all charges and called the investigation politically motivated. Issuing an arrest warrant against him would require the court to seek legislative approval.