Prosecution Office Rejects Arrest Warrant Application for Nonghyup Chairman Kang Hodong Over 'Cash and Valuables Allegations'

The Public Prosecution Office rejected a request for an arrest warrant for Kang Ho-dong, chairman of the National Agricultural Cooperative Federation, who is suspected of receiving money and valuables worth more than KRW 100 million.

The Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office said on Nov. 6 that its Non-Referral Review Division 1, headed by Chief Prosecutor Lee Sijeon, had rejected the warrant requests filed by the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency for Chairman Kang and the CEO of a partner company, identified as A.

Kang Ho-dong, chairman of the National Agricultural Cooperative Federation, leaves the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office in Seocho-gu, Seoul, on Nov. 5 after completing a suspect interview before prosecutors sought an arrest warrant. 2026.11.5 Yonhap News

The office said it was difficult to conclude that the main allegations had been sufficiently substantiated to justify seeking arrest warrants. It added that, given the progress of an investigation that has lasted more than 18 months and the suspects' attendance at questioning, it was difficult to establish that their detention was necessary and warranted at this stage.

The rejection came three days after the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency's Metropolitan Investigation Unit Anti-Corruption Investigation Division requested arrest warrants for the two on Nov. 3. The previous day, the Public Prosecution Office met with Chairman Kang and reviewed evidence collected by police before reaching its decision.

Chairman Kang is suspected of receiving money and valuables worth more than KRW 100 million from the CEO of a service provider that had business dealings with an affiliate of the National Agricultural Cooperative Federation around January 2024, during the election period. Police have suspected that he received a request to give the company favorable treatment in its business at a time when his election was considered highly likely.

Chairman Kang is also suspected of misusing internal funds. Police are investigating allegations that some departments of the National Agricultural Cooperative Federation used public funds from 2024 through 2025 to buy expensive gifts and deliver them to the chairman's and vice chairman's offices, among other places.

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