Diplomats accused of trading documents for sex

 Seoul (AP):

South Korea is investigating several diplomats accused of trading government documents for sex with a Chinese woman while posted at the country's consulate in Shanghai, officials disclosed yesterday.

The scandal, only the latest for President Lee Myung-bak's administration - was splashed across South Korean newspapers Wednesday after the Foreign Ministry and the prime minister's office said they were probing at least four officials, including the former consul general.

The mass-circulation Dong-a Ilbo newspaper reported that South Korean diplomats are believed to have given the woman a list of telephone numbers of top South Korean officials and politicians, including President Lee.

An official in the prime minister's office said it had not yet determined whether such information had been passed or even if any of the documents were confidential.

The JoongAng Ilbo newspaper cited a South Korean official as saying that the exposure of high-level information was slim since the consulate in Shanghai deals with few state secrets.