Noh Tae-ak allegedly decided overseas trip destinations

A joint investigation team comprising prosecutors and police has obtained testimony suggesting that former National Election Commission Chairperson Noh Tae-ak personally decided the destinations for overseas business trips. According to the investigation, while staff members would propose candidate countries, the final decision rested with Noh.

Investigators also obtained statements indicating that Noh was aware of the budget allocations for his spouse's travel expenses. The investigation follows allegations of luxury overseas trips involving Noh's spouse. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed that none of the three trips involving Noh's spouse—to Australia and New Zealand, Germany and Estonia, and Denmark and Sweden—were made following official invitations from the host countries.

During the trips to Germany/Estonia and Denmark/Sweden, significant public funds were utilized, with approximately 40 million won spent solely on his spouse's airfare and accommodation, including business class travel. Previously, Noh testified before a parliamentary committee that he did not specifically request these accompanied trips but noted that such arrangements had been made without objection in the past. The fact that his spouse accompanied him had reportedly not been disclosed in official National Election Commission travel reports.