The joint investigation team probing allegations of misconduct within the Election Commission has confirmed that all three overseas trips taken by former Election Commission Chairman No Tae-ak with his spouse were conducted without official invitations from the host countries.
On August 12, legal sources reported that the joint investigation team, led by Kim Tae-hoon, deputy chief prosecutor of the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office, plans to question two Election Commission officials as witnesses regarding their involvement in the planning of No's overseas trips and the decision to include his spouse.
The investigation team has recently obtained documents from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs indicating that none of the trips involving No and his spouse were scheduled at the request of the host countries. It has also been determined that there was no 'spousal invitation program' from the host nations.
The trips in question include visits to Australia and New Zealand in December 2022, Germany and Estonia in November 2024, and Denmark and Sweden in November 2025. No accompanied his wife on all three occasions.
His spouse's name was not included on the official travel roster. While some trip planning documents noted 'Chairman's couple accompanying,' this language was reportedly omitted from the publicly released reports for the 2024 and 2025 trips.
The investigation team is also examining whether No's spouse performed any official duties during these trips. According to regulations, travel expenses can be covered for non-official personnel accompanying officials if they are engaged in official business.
It is reported that No's spouse attended only six official events during the three trips, including luncheons and meetings at diplomatic missions—two in 2022, three in 2024, and one in 2025.
Conversely, there are indications that Election Commission staff members facilitated unofficial activities for the spouse. In 2022, two staff members alternated in managing her schedule, while in 2024 and 2025, one staff member was reportedly assigned to this task.
Some staff members were listed as attendees in the trip reports, but their presence was not confirmed in on-site photographs. The investigation team has previously secured statements from Election Commission staff indicating that they managed the spouse's unofficial schedule without any official duties being performed.
The total expenses paid for the spouse during the three trips amounted to 47,438,900 won. The Election Commission maintains that these expenses were disbursed in accordance with travel regulations, but acknowledged that there were aspects that did not align with public expectations. They have decided to require spouses to cover their own expenses in cases where no spousal invitation program exists in the future.
On July 20, No returned the full amount of travel expenses for his spouse to the national treasury, coinciding with the day the investigation team conducted its first search and seizure related to the allegations of luxury trips.
The investigation team is currently analyzing financial documents related to the overseas travel expenses obtained during the search. They are also reviewing whether the travel expenses paid to the spouse can be classified as embezzlement.
Additionally, the investigation team plans to question the head of the Gangnam District Election Commission regarding the shortage of ballots during the June 3 local elections. They will also summon officials from the Central Election Commission as witnesses in connection with allegations of voter manipulation.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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