South Korean special counsel raids former NEC chief's home

A special counsel team led by Lee Tae-han has conducted a search and seizure of the residence of Noh Tae-ak, the former chairman of the National Election Commission (NEC), amid allegations of improper overseas travel. The raid, which took place on the morning of the 21st, involved 12 personnel who secured mobile phones and other materials from Noh’s home.

Simultaneously, the team searched the NEC headquarters in Gwacheon to secure related documents. The investigation focuses on charges of occupational embezzlement and the falsification of official documents. Investigators allege that Noh accompanied his spouse on three overseas trips—to Australia and New Zealand in 2022, Germany and Estonia in 2024, and Denmark and Sweden in 2025—using approximately 226 million won in NEC funds.

Evidence suggests that staff members were assigned to accompany Noh’s spouse on private itineraries while officially reporting their participation in formal diplomatic meetings. This marks the first time a former Supreme Court Justice has been subject to a forced investigation of this nature since the 2018 judicial scandal. The special counsel intends to expand the probe to examine broader mismanagement within the NEC involving current and former officials.