North Gyeongsang police searched several offices at Andong City Hall on September 22 as part of an election-law investigation involving Mayor Kwon Ki-chang. Investigators were looking into allegations connected to party-member recruitment ahead of the June local elections.
The search covered offices including the Local Era Policy Office, Future Strategy Planning Group, Public Health and Hygiene Division and the mayor's secretariat. Police reportedly sent more than ten investigators to the site.
The inquiry concerns several city officials suspected of recruiting members for a particular political party before the election. Authorities are also examining broader allegations involving campaign finance and election-law compliance.
The search is an investigative step and does not establish guilt. The next stage will depend on what police recover from the seized materials and whether the inquiry leads to formal referrals or charges.