ANKARA

South Korea’s Ministry of National Defense launched an investigation Tuesday into the Korea Institute for Defense Analyses (KIDA) over corruption allegations, according to local media.

A senior KIDA official allegedly collected parts of bonuses paid to employees to create a slush fund and bribed government officials and lawmakers, the Korea Times reported.

The allegations were raised last month by a whistle-blower from the think tank.

The prime minister’s office obtained a list of government officials and lawmakers who allegedly received the money, and the case was referred to the defense ministry, it said.

The investigation is likely to continue for about two weeks and the slush fund may exceed 400 million won ($343,000), the report added.