[Edaily Reporter BAEK JU-A ] A special investigation team from the National Election Commission raided the home of former National Election Commission Chairman Noh Tae-ak, who is suspected of taking a trip under the guise of official business.

The special prosecution team announced that it conducted a search and seizure at former Chairman Noh’s residence around 8:10 a.m. on the 21st and secured items such as a cell phone.

The special prosecution team explained that, in connection with the allegations of overseas business trips, they had uncovered evidence that a National Election Commission official had entered false information into an official document—specifically, an overseas business trip report—and that they had initiated the search and seizure on charges of embezzlement in the course of duty, falsification of official documents, and use of falsified official documents.

A total of 12 personnel, including two assigned prosecutors and seven investigators, were deployed for the search and seizure operation.

The special prosecution team is also conducting a search and seizure at the National Election Commission starting at 9:00 a.m.

Previously, former Chairman Noh faced allegations that he had taken his spouse on three overseas business trips during his tenure and charged the related expenses to the Election Commission’s budget.

The joint prosecution-police investigation task force, which probed the Central Election Commission’s lax management, has also secured documents and testimonies indicating that a dedicated staff member was assigned to accompany Mr. Noh’s spouse during his leisure-oriented trips.

Although the employee’s travel report stated that he attended official events—such as meetings with local officials alongside former Chairman Noh—it was determined that he had actually accompanied the spouse on separate personal itineraries.

This marks the first time a search and seizure has been conducted at the residence of former Chairman Noh, who also served as a Justice of the Supreme Court.

Previously, in September and October 2018, the Seoul Central District Prosecutors’ Office conducted search and seizure operations at the homes of high-ranking judges suspected of involvement in the so-called “judicial manipulation” scandal, including former Supreme Court Justice Ko Young-han and former Chief Justice Yang Seung-tae.

This is the first search warrant issued against a current Supreme Court justice since then.

Previously, the Special Prosecutor’s Office for the National Election Commission announced that it had requested search warrants on the 12th targeting current and former high-ranking judges, including Supreme Court justices, but the Seoul Central District Court rejected the request on the 14th.

An official from the special counsel’s office stated, “Based on the analysis of the seized materials, we will uncover the truth regarding allegations of lax management across the board—including frivolous overseas trips by current and former National Election Commission commissioners and staff—as part of our investigation into the overall operations of the agency.”