A small island off the southern coast is in a state of unrest after a vote-buying scandal surfaced, causing one-fourth of its population to be questioned by police.
The Mokpo Police Department in South Jeolla Province said Thursday 1,093 residents of Imja Island will be questioned regarding suspicions that they received envelopes filled with cash from candidates running for the top seat of a farmers' association on the island.
"Around 700 of them were questioned," said a police officer familiar with the case. "According to the testimony of those who admitted to receiving the money, each eligible voter received between 100,000 and three million won in exchange for voting for a specific candidate."
Police recently raided election offices of five candidates in question and confiscated their bank records.
"We are tracing transactions involving the accounts," the officer said.
According to residents and police, the seat that is up-for-grabs has substantial control over business on the island.