No Tae-ak defends spouse travel on official trips: 'No one ever objected'

Former National Election Commission Chairman No Tae-ak defended his practice of bringing his spouse on overseas official trips during his tenure, saying it had always been done that way and no one had ever raised an objection.

No appeared Monday before the second plenary session of the National Assembly's special parliamentary investigation committee, convened to examine the ballot shortage during the June 3 local elections and related violations of citizens' voting rights.

No took his spouse on three overseas trips — to Australia, Germany and Estonia — while serving as NEC chairman. He said he had not personally requested the arrangement but had asked staff whether spousal accompaniment was permitted. "Every single time, without exception, it had been done that way, and no one ever objected, so I assumed it was allowed by law and did not question it," he said.

He added that, viewed from today's perspective, he was "deeply sorry" that the practice had appeared improper to the public.

When committee chairman Yoon Sang-hyeon asked whether he would be willing to return any funds deemed improper, No said he would "explore every available means to return them if that is found to be the case."

Asked by Democratic Party of Korea lawmaker Lee Hae-sik whether it was appropriate for the NEC chairmanship to remain a non-standing position, No said he believed it "would no longer be tenable."

Currently, eight of the NEC's nine commissioners hold non-standing positions, including the chairman, who concurrently serves as a Supreme Court justice.

No described the ballot shortage as a structural problem and said that "if constitutional reform is necessary, it should be pursued."