Joint Investigation Team Raids NEC Over Allegations of 'Vacation-Like' Overseas Trips

A joint investigation team of prosecutors and police, which is investigating allegations of mismanagement and corruption related to the National Election Commission (NEC), has launched a compulsory investigation into the 'vacation-like overseas trip' allegations involving former NEC Chairperson Roh Tae-ak.

The joint investigation team (led by Kim Tae-hoon, Deputy Chief Prosecutor of the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office) announced today (July 20) that it has begun executing search and seizure warrants at locations including the office of the NEC Chairperson.

The search and seizure warrants reportedly include charges of occupational embezzlement related to the 'vacation-like overseas trip' allegations.

Former Chairperson Roh and unnamed NEC employees were identified as suspects in the warrants.

However, it was noted that Roh's residence was excluded from the search and seizure operations on this day.

During his tenure, Roh traveled overseas three times to countries including Germany and Sweden accompanied by his spouse. Allegations of embezzlement were raised as the fact that his spouse accompanied him was not recorded in the NEC's post-trip reports.

Beyond the case of the former chairperson, it was revealed that from 2022 to June of this year, 461 NEC employees took 107 overseas trips to popular vacation or tourist destinations such as the Maldives, Bangkok, Kota Kinabalu, and Florence.

Following the raising of these allegations during National Assembly hearings and the subsequent controversy, the Media Special Committee of the People Power Party filed a complaint with the joint investigation team against the former chairperson and others on charges of occupational embezzlement.

(Photo: Yonhap News)
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.