Kang Ho-dong, chairman of the National Agricultural Cooperative Federation, appeared before police again for questioning over allegations he accepted money and valuables.
Kang arrived at the Metropolitan Investigation Bureau building of the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency in Seoul's Mapo District at about 9:20 a.m. on the 19th, police said. It was his second summons, coming six months after police questioned him as a suspect in April.
Investigators are expected to focus this time on suspicions that Kang received large condolence payments at the time of his mother-in-law's funeral.
Police are investigating allegations that Kang accepted about 100 million won in money and valuables from a distributor linked to an affiliate of the federation, described as campaign funds, ahead of the January 2024 election for federation chairman. Kang had served as head of the Yulgok agricultural cooperative in Hapcheon, South Gyeongsang Province, before being elected the 25th chairman of the federation on Jan. 25, 2024. He took office on March 11 that year. Police opened the investigation in July last year after receiving intelligence that Kang had taken bribes. In October of the same year, they searched the federation's offices and the chairman's office on Saemunan-ro in Seoul's Jung District.
Kang is also suspected of misusing project funds at the Nonghyup Foundation through a senior foundation official between 2024 and last year, and of procuring 490 million won worth of gifts for people who had helped him in the chairmanship election. In February last year, he is suspected of receiving a gold key worth 6 million won at the time from cooperative heads, described as a gift marking the first anniversary of his inauguration.
Kang denied the allegations of misusing funds at a parliamentary audit held by the National Assembly's Agriculture, Food, Rural Affairs, Oceans and Fisheries Committee on the 16th. Asked whether he had instructed, conspired in or abetted the purchase of expensive gifts, Kang answered, "No." He also said he would take legal responsibility if his involvement were revealed.