Police Seek Arrest Warrant for National Agricultural Cooperative Federation Chairman Kang Hodong a Year After Launching Probe into Alleged Receipt of Gifts and Other Benefits

Sought an arrest warrant from the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office

Police have sought an arrest warrant for Kang Hodong, chairman of the National Agricultural Cooperative Federation, about a year after launching an investigation into allegations that he received more than 100 million won in gifts and other benefits, among other charges.

According to Yonhap News on November 4, the Anti-Corruption Investigation Division of the Metropolitan Investigation Unit at the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency sought an arrest warrant for Chairman Kang from the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office on November 3. The prosecution has not yet requested an arrest warrant from the court, it is understood.

Kang Hodong, chairman of the National Agricultural Cooperative Federation. Yonhap News Agency

Police launched a full-scale investigation into the allegations against Chairman Kang in October 2025, including by raiding the National Agricultural Cooperative Federation's headquarters. It was more than a year later that police moved to take him into custody.

Police first summoned Chairman Kang in April 2026 and questioned him twice last month.

Chairman Kang is suspected of receiving more than 100 million won in gifts and other benefits around January 2024 from the head of a service provider that had business dealings with an affiliate of the National Agricultural Cooperative Federation. Police have suspected that the company head delivered the benefits at a time when Kang was widely expected to win the election, in exchange for a request for favorable treatment.

Police are also investigating allegations that Chairman Kang misused internal public funds. Some departments at the National Agricultural Cooperative Federation allegedly used public funds from 2024 through 2025 to buy expensive thank-you gifts and deliver them to the chairman's and vice chairman's offices.

Police are also investigating whether Chairman Kang violated the Improper Solicitation and Graft Act by accepting several hundred million won in condolence money when his mother-in-law died in May 2025.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.