Noh Tae-ak pledges to return wife's overseas travel expenses

Former National Election Commission Chairman Noh Tae-ak said he would return to the state treasury or donate to society the travel expenses spent on his wife during overseas official trips, amid controversy over his practice of bringing her along on such trips.

Noh appeared before a full session of the National Assembly's special parliamentary investigation committee on Wednesday and told People Power Party Rep. Yun Sang-hyun, who chairs the committee, that he would "return the expenses to the state treasury or give them back to society in an appropriate manner."

"Based on media reports, it appears the airfare for my spouse came to around 33 million won ($21,300), and I will confirm the remaining accommodation and meal costs once the relevant documents arrive," Noh said. "I will accept any moral or political criticism."

Asked whether bringing his wife on overseas trips was related to his duties as NEC chairman, Noh said he "deeply acknowledges and reflects on the fact that it was highly inappropriate by the standards of the public."

Noh visited Germany and Estonia in November 2024 on a nine-day, seven-night trip accompanied by his wife. The NEC spent 71.94 million won on that trip, covering airfare, rail fares, accommodation and miscellaneous expenses.

According to an NEC document titled "Overseas Travel Plan for the Development of the Election System and Promotion of International Networks," Noh also traveled to Denmark and Sweden with his wife in November 2025 on a 10-day, eight-night trip, at a total cost of 90.53 million won.

Noh's wife was also reported to have accompanied him on a trip to Australia and New Zealand from Dec. 2 to Dec. 10, 2022, described as a fact-finding and overseas election evaluation tour.