National Election Commission official found dead after special prosecutor investigation

A male official in his 40s, belonging to the National Election Commission (NEC) of South Korea, was found dead in an apartment complex in Hwaseong, Gyeonggi Province, on the morning of October 21. Police believe the individual may have fallen from his residence.

The official had been questioned the previous day as a suspect by the Lee Tae-han special prosecutor team. The investigation is looking into allegations of bid-rigging and breach of trust regarding service contracts for election supplies used during recent presidential and local elections. A note left by the deceased reportedly expressed feelings of injustice regarding the investigation process.

The NEC expressed regret, stating the employee had experienced extreme psychological pressure due to the ongoing investigation. Conversely, the special prosecutor's team maintained that the interrogation was conducted without coercion, noting that the suspect was accompanied by legal counsel and voluntarily reviewed his statements before returning home.