South Korean "luxury addict" stole 1.4 mln dollars-police

SEOUL, July 20 (Reuters) South Korean police are seeking a 26-year-old woman on suspicion of embezzling about 1.4 million dollars to fund a craving for designer shoes, bags and clothes, a spokesman said today.

''We have strong reason to believe she used this money to purchase about 1,000 designer goods,'' the police spokesman said.

''Without doubt, you have to say she is a luxury-addict.'' The woman, identified only as ''Miss A'', worked for an agricultural cooperative. She is suspected of siphoning off utility and tax payments to fund purchases including, according to media reports, hundreds of pairs of shoes.

Police are looking for accomplices, but would not release further details.

REUTERS CS BD1452