Former Election Chief Received $3,000 Allowance for One Day's Work, Records Show

Noh Tae-ak, the former chairman of South Korea's National Election Commission (NEC), received a substantial allowance of 4.25 million won (approximately $3,000) for attending just one day of meetings in November 2024. Records show that this single day of attendance was for a meeting related to the NEC's regular schedule.

Further scrutiny of Noh's attendance records reveals that many of the events he was present for were not directly related to election management. These included social gatherings such as a New Year's concert and participation in international anniversary events. In January 2024, a year marked by general elections, Noh attended a total of six days, but three of those were for non-election related functions like a New Year's reception and a youth winter Olympics opening ceremony.

“

Even if it is a non-standing system for the chairman and election commissioners, the structure of receiving monthly allowances without playing any role related to the actual work of the election commission is difficult for the public to comprehend based on common sense.

This practice extends to other non-standing NEC members, some of whom have reportedly received over 2 million won in monthly allowances without attending any meetings. These allowances are largely composed of fixed "public election promotion fees" (gongchubi), which are paid regardless of attendance. Lawmakers are questioning the rationale behind a system where officials receive significant fixed stipends without performing concrete election-related duties, calling for a thorough review and reform of the NEC's compensation structure.

“

This is a part that must be thoroughly re-examined in the process of reforming the NEC structure, triggered by this incident.