Prosecutors raided the home and office of the president of South Korea's state-run farmers' cooperative Friday over allegations he was elected through illegal campaigning.

The Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office said Kim Byeong-won is suspected of getting involved in irregularities committed during the January election where he was named the chief of the National Agricultural Cooperative Federation.


Prosecutors said they confiscated documents related to his campaigning, including campaign records and Kim's personal journal.

During the latest election, three candidates, including Kim, ran for the presidency. Choi Deok-gyu, the candidate who took third place in the initial round of voting, is suspected of sending messages to delegates to vote for Kim just before the voting began, according to prosecutors.

Under the local law that regulates the federation's election, candidates and third parties are prohibited from campaigning on the day of the election.

Prosecutors said they are planning to summon the 62-year-old chief next week and investigate whether he was involved in the irregularities. (Yonhap)