Prosecutors launched an investigation Saturday into the eldest son of the late owner of the Sewol ferry, after he was arrested one day earlier on suspicion of embezzlement related to April's deadly sinking.

Yoo Dae-kyun, 44, the son of Yoo Byung-eun, was arrested Friday in Yongin, south of Seoul, following a three-month manhunt. Park Soo-kyung, a 34-year-old woman, was also captured on suspicion of helping Dae-kyun avoid the dragnet.

Prosecutors kicked off their investigation into the younger Yoo and Park to find out details about their escape route, they said.

Police and prosecutors had sought Yoo Byung-eun -- a religious figure and ex-convict -- over alleged corruption they believe contributed to the April 16 disaster that left more than 300 people, mostly high school students, dead or missing.

This week, the body of the fugitive Yoo, who owned the Sewol operator, was identified through DNA testing, after being found on a remote hill in the southern part of the country some six weeks ago.

Yoo's son said Friday that he had not known the news of his father's death when grilled by investigators after being arrested.

The state forensic agency said that it was impossible to determine the cause of death of the fugitive shipping tycoon as his body was badly decomposed.

Many of Yoo's other family members, including his wife and elder brother, have been arrested following the ferry disaster on embezzlement charges.

Yoo's daughter Som-na is fighting an extradition bid from Paris, and his second son, Hyuk-ki, is also wanted on corruption charges but is hiding abroad.

(Yonhap)