Election Chief's Overseas Trips With Wife Omitted From Official Reports

Central Election Management Commission Chairman Noh Tae-ak took his wife on three overseas trips during his term, with all expenses covered by public funds. However, these accompanying trips were not disclosed in official reports submitted to the National Assembly, sparking controversy.

According to data submitted by the Election Commission to Democratic Party lawmaker Yang Bu-nam, Noh's wife accompanied him on trips to Australia and New Zealand in August 2022, Germany and Estonia in July 2024, and Denmark and Sweden in August 2025. The total cost for airfare and accommodation for these trips, spanning 7 to 10 days each, was covered by taxpayer money.

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The trips taken by the chairman with his spouse were clearly an abuse of privilege and a waste of public funds, neglecting core election management duties.

These trips were officially for purposes such as gathering opinions on election political systems, evaluating overseas voting, and promoting international exchange and cooperation with election management bodies abroad. However, the Election Commission's official reports, which are made public, only listed Noh and other commission staff as participants, excluding his wife's name.

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We considered the need for appropriate courtesies befitting the status and role of a constitutional institution head when allocating the budget for the spouse. We followed precedent, but we will operate in line with public expectations going forward.

This omission has led to suspicions that the Election Commission intentionally concealed the fact that Noh's wife accompanied him, possibly to avoid criticism of wasting public funds. Critics, including Yang, have labeled the trips as "outings" disguised as official business, pointing to the itinerary for the Denmark and Sweden trip, which included a visit to a Korean War memorial as its only significant activity after arriving. Yang criticized Noh for neglecting his core election management duties to take advantage of "couple's trips" under the guise of "overseas institutional exchange," calling it a clear abuse of privilege and a waste of taxpayer money.

The Election Commission defended the practice, stating that provisions for the chairman's spouse were made during budget planning to ensure appropriate courtesies befitting the constitutional institution's head. They claimed to have followed precedent but pledged to operate in line with public expectations going forward. Regarding the omission of his wife's name from reports, they explained it was because she is not a public official.

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It was to provide a better environment for officers, soldiers and their families.