The Joint Investigation Team probing misconduct within the National Election Commission has uncovered evidence that Noh Tae-ak, the former chair of the commission, was accompanied on overseas trips by a staff member assigned to assist his spouse.
According to legal sources on August 7, the Joint Investigation Team, led by Kim Tae-hoon, deputy chief prosecutor at the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office, has obtained documents and testimonies indicating that a dedicated staff member was assigned to accompany Noh's spouse during his overseas trips.
While the related travel reports state that this staff member attended official meetings with Noh and local officials, it has been determined that the staff member actually accompanied the spouse on separate activities.
During his tenure, Noh traveled abroad three times with his spouse: to Australia and New Zealand in 2022, to Germany and Estonia in 2024, and to Denmark and Sweden last year.
The trips to Germany and Estonia cost approximately 71.94 million won, while the Denmark and Sweden trip incurred expenses of about 90.53 million won.
Of these costs, over 40 million won was attributed to airfare and accommodation for his wife. However, the National Election Commission did not disclose the fact that his spouse accompanied him in the reports made public, leading to controversy.
The Joint Investigation Team has charged Noh with embezzlement and conducted a search of the National Election Commission's office on July 20.
They are currently investigating the details of the separate itinerary for Noh's spouse based on work activity records from the trips.
* This article has been translated by AI.
Copyright ⓒ Aju Press All rights reserved.