Investigators from South Korea’s independent special counsel raid the National Election Commission (NEC) headquarters in Gwacheon over allegations that commissioners received improper monthly stipends. Multiple reports say search teams also target senior NEC offices, including those of the chairperson and the secretary general, with some coverage extending to a former secretary general’s home.
Yonhap and the Korea Times both describe a multi-day operation and link the probe to a broader independent-counsel investigation launched earlier this year. The stated focus includes irregularities at the NEC, including matters connected to ballot shortages in June’s local elections. The Korea Times adds that the special counsel says the stipends were paid in the name of supporting “free and fair elections,” despite prior indications from oversight bodies that there was no legal basis for the payments. The Korea Times also provides a total figure and notes the stipends allegedly exceed a legal threshold tied to losses to the state treasury.
