Former Election Chief Returns $34,000 in Wife's Travel Expenses Amid Controversy

Former National Election Commission Chairman Noh Tae-ak has returned approximately 47 million won in travel expenses incurred during overseas trips with his wife. The repayment comes after recent controversy and a parliamentary inquiry questioned the nature of these trips, labeling them as potentially for personal leisure.

Noh's wife accompanied him on three separate international journeys: a trip to Australia and New Zealand in December 2022, a visit to Germany and Estonia in November 2024, and an 8-day, 10-night excursion to Denmark and Sweden last year. The total cost for these trips, including his wife's expenses, amounted to 47,438,900 won.

The details of these trips, particularly the inclusion of his wife, were not initially disclosed in the commission's public reports. The controversy erupted during a recent parliamentary audit, prompting Noh's decision to reimburse the funds. The specific amounts returned for each trip were 14,164,464 won for the 2022 journey, 17,636,861 won for the 2024 trip, and 15,637,575 won for last year's travel.