Former Election Commission Chief returns spouse's travel expenses totaling $47 million

Former National Election Commission (NEC) Chairman Noh Tae-hak has returned over 47 million won in travel expenses related to his spouse accompanying him on overseas trips during his tenure. The decision comes after revelations during a parliamentary audit that his wife had joined him on three official journeys, with associated costs covered by public funds.

The returned amount totals 47,438,900 won, covering expenses from trips in 2022 (14,164,464 won), 2024 (17,636,861 won), and last year (15,637,575 won). These trips, spanning 8 to 10 days each, included visits to Australia, New Zealand, Germany, Estonia, Denmark, and Sweden.

The official purposes of these trips were to gather opinions on electoral systems, evaluate overseas voting, promote electoral system development, foster international networks, and exchange with foreign election management bodies. However, the fact that Noh's spouse accompanied him on these official duties, with her airfare and accommodation covered by taxpayers, sparked controversy.

Noh Tae-hak stepped down as NEC chairman following public outcry over a ballot shortage incident during the June 3 local elections. The controversy surrounding his spouse's travel expenses emerged after his resignation, adding another layer to the scrutiny of his leadership.