SEOUL: South Korean state prosecutors have indicted more than a quarter of Seoul's city councillors for corruption in the biggest crackdown on local legislatures, officials said Sunday.

Twenty-eight members of the 106-strong city legislature were officially accused Saturday of taking money from one of their own, who was vying for the body's top post, according to Seoul prosecutors' office.

The colleague, who was elected to head the city council in June, was arrested last month for buying votes from fellow councillors, the office said.

The city councillors involved, all from the governing Grand National Party, had received kickbacks of up to US$4,500 each, it said.

Seoul's Dong-A Ilbo newspaper called the mass indictment "an unprecedented case" since South Korea revived its local legislative system in 1991.

There could soon be a by-election to replace the 28 councillors, Dong-A said.

Under South Korean law, a city councillor would lose their job if they receive a jail term for corruption, or one million won or more in fines.

- AFP/yb