Police have launched a coercive investigation into allegations that the mayor of Seoul's Jung-gu violated the Public Official Election Act, which were raised following the local elections in June of last year.

The Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency's Public Crime Investigation Unit announced that it sent investigators to the Jung-gu Office building in Yegwan-dong, Jung-gu, Seoul, starting at 4:30 PM today (September 29) to conduct a raid.

The search and seizure reportedly includes offices within the Jung-gu Office.

Jung-gu Mayor Kim Gil-sung is suspected of providing meals worth hundreds of thousands of won to constituents at a five-star hotel restaurant in Seoul last June.

It was found that the costs were processed under the guise of a meeting. The Public Official Election Act prohibits heads of local governments from engaging in donation acts toward people within their constituency.

Police plan to analyze the seized items secured today and investigate Mayor Kim and other relevant individuals regarding the circumstances of the meal payment and the size of the gathering.

(Photo: Yonhap News)