Another Official Dies After Special Investigation into Election Supplies

A staff member of the National Election Commission was found dead after being questioned by the Special Investigation Team led by Lee Tae-han. The commission expressed regret over the psychological burden faced during the investigation and called for the protection of staff rights. The Special Investigation Team stated that there was no coercive questioning.

According to police reports, a 40-year-old official, identified as A, was discovered dead on the morning of October 21 in Hwaseong, Gyeonggi Province. Authorities are investigating the exact circumstances surrounding the death.

A had appeared before the Special Investigation Team the previous day regarding allegations of bidding interference and breach of trust related to election supplies contracts. This was his first appearance, and he was questioned as a suspect with a lawyer present.

The Special Investigation Team indicated that the questioning lasted from 10 a.m. to 8:55 p.m. the day before, totaling 10 hours and 55 minutes, with 3 hours and 20 minutes allocated for breaks, resulting in 7 hours and 35 minutes of actual questioning. Following this, A reviewed and amended the suspect interrogation record for 1 hour and 45 minutes before returning home around 10:40 p.m.

The Special Investigation Team emphasized that the review and amendment of the record were conducted voluntarily by A and that sufficient breaks were provided. A representative stated, "There were no coercive situations during the investigation," and expressed condolences for the deceased.

In an official statement, the National Election Commission expressed concerns about the investigation process. They stated, "Despite our sincere and transparent cooperation with the Special Investigation Team's search and seizure procedures, it is very regrettable that one of our staff members has lost their precious life due to the extreme psychological burden from the ongoing investigation."

They added, "We hope the exact circumstances of the death will be confirmed promptly through relevant agencies," and requested that the Special Investigation Team ensure that the rights of election commission staff are not violated during the investigation process. They also affirmed their commitment to responsibly engage in necessary investigative procedures.

The commission described the deceased as a dedicated and responsible employee and extended condolences to the family and colleagues. However, the specific causal relationship between the investigation and the death has yet to be established.

This incident follows a similar case last year when a Yangpyeong County official was found dead after being investigated by the Kim Geon-hee Special Investigation Team over allegations of preferential treatment in the development of the Yangpyeong Gongheung District. Given the previous controversies surrounding the appropriateness of the investigation process, the circumstances of this case and the protection of human rights are expected to be key points of scrutiny.

Jung Mong-hun, former chairman of Hyundai Asan, died in 2003 while under investigation by prosecutors following a special investigation into remittances to North Korea. Former Justice Party floor leader Roh Hyeon-chan was also under investigation in 2018 regarding political funding allegations related to the Druking scandal but died before being summoned for questioning.

Meanwhile, the schedule for Lee Tae-han's visit to the Serious Crimes Investigation Agency has been postponed from 3 p.m. on October 21 to 3 p.m. on October 23. The Special Investigation Team announced the change but did not disclose specific reasons for the delay.

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