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Currently, there is significant public interest in Kang Ho-dong, the Chairman of NH Nonghyup. He was elected as the 25th Chairman of the National Agricultural Cooperative Federation in January 2024 through direct election and assumed office in March of the same year. The NH Nonghyup Chairman leads a vast organization encompassing 2 million members and 120,000 employees nationwide, overseeing finance, distribution, and agricultural policies.
Chairman Kang Ho-dong's career began at Hapcheon Yulgok Nonghyup in Gyeongsangnam-do, where he served as managing director and then chairman. During his tenure as chairman, he also held positions such as director of NH Nonghyup Federation, gaining experience in both local and central organizational structures. After an unsuccessful bid in 2020, he was elected in 2024, becoming the first chairman chosen under the revised direct election system. Upon his inauguration, he outlined key objectives including enhancing the status of agricultural and livestock cooperatives, increasing agricultural income, and strengthening digital competitiveness in the financial sector.
However, his tenure has faced challenges. Reports indicate that in October 2025, the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency's Anti-Corruption Investigation Unit raided the NH Nonghyup Chairman's office on bribery charges and imposed a travel ban. In March 2026, a joint government special audit team requested investigations into 14 cases involving Chairman Kang and others. More recently, a secretary in his office was arrested on charges of embezzling public funds, adding to the various allegations surrounding his leadership.
