The joint investigation headquarters of police and prosecutors is conducting a search and seizure on the National Election Commission office in Gwacheon, Gyeonggi, on the 20th in connection with allegations of a spouse-accompanied overseas trip by former National Election Commission Chairperson Roh Tae-ak and other issues.
Through a media notice that day, the joint investigation headquarters said it was conducting a search and seizure of the National Election Commission "in connection with a complaint of occupational embezzlement related to former Chairperson Roh's spouse-accompanied overseas trip and pleasure-oriented overseas trips by NEC employees."
Earlier, the People Power Party's Special Committee on Media on the 17th of last month filed a complaint with the joint investigation headquarters accusing unidentified National Election Commission officials of occupational embezzlement. On the 19th of the same month, it additionally filed a complaint against the former chairperson Roh.
According to the complaint, the unidentified National Election Commission officials went on an official overseas trip to the Maldives under the pretext of observing the Maldives presidential election from Sept. 6–14, 2023. At the time, they are said to have spent about 14.7 million won in airfare, lodging, meals, and other expenses from the NEC budget. In addition, suspicions were raised that a total of about 86.8 million won was misappropriated over four trips, including to Italy and Thailand.
The former chairperson Roh is suspected of having taken a pleasure-oriented trip with a spouse while in office. From Nov. 13–23 last year, Roh traveled overseas, including to Denmark, with a spouse, but it was not recorded in the trip report, among other issues, and the accuser's side claims about 90.53 million won was embezzled.
Based on servers and PC records secured through this search and seizure of the National Election Commission, the joint investigation headquarters is expected to verify the facts.