On the 3rd, it was reported that the prosecution searched the office of Ji Jun-seop, vice president of the National Agricultural Cooperative Federation.
According to the legal community on the same day, the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office's anti-corruption investigation team 1 reportedly conducted a search of the vice president's office in Jung-gu, Seoul.
This search is related to allegations that NongHyup Bank provided unfair loans to Seoyoung Holdings. The prosecution is investigating allegations that Seoyoung Group, the parent company of the daily newspaper "Gyeonggi Shinmun," received illegal loans from NongHyup Bank in the range of 3 billion to 4 billion won. This suspicion was first raised during the 2023 National Assembly inspection.
In February, the prosecution began a forced investigation by searching the headquarters of NongHyup Bank and Seoyoung Holdings, as well as Seoyoung Industrial Development Group. Subsequently, in April, they conducted another search of Seoyoung Holdings and Seoyoung Industrial Development Group.
In May, the prosecution requested a detention warrant for Han Sang-gwon, the representative of Seoyoung Holdings, but the court dismissed it. The court noted, "There is room for dispute over the criminal allegations, and it is necessary to guarantee the right to defense."
After that, the prosecution conducted an additional search of the headquarters of NongHyup Bank last month.