(LEAD) Election official found dead after special counsel questioning

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(ATTN: ADDS statement from NEC in paras 7-8)

SEOUL, Oct. 21 (Yonhap) -- A National Election Commission (NEC) official was found dead Wednesday, a day after being questioned by a special counsel team investigating the election watchdog in connection with the unprecedented ballot shortages in the local elections.

According to the sources, the official in his 40s was found in the flowerbed of an apartment building in Hwaseong, about 45 kilometers south of Seoul, at 7:06 a.m. with a suicide note expressing grievances he felt during the questioning. Police suspect he jumped from his apartment.

The investigation team has been looking into why the ballot shortages happened and if any corruption or irregularities were involved in contracts for election-related supplies, such as early voting ballot boxes and voting site banners used in last year's presidential election and the June 3 local elections.

The deceased underwent questioning at the investigation team's office Tuesday as a suspect over alleged obstruction of the bidding process and breach of trust. The questioning ended around 8:55 p.m., and the official left the office at 10:40 p.m. after reviewing his statement given during the questioning.

The special counsel's team expressed condolences but denied any unfair treatment.

"We express deep condolences to the deceased," the team said. "As seen in the suspect voluntarily reviewing and revising his statement, there was no coercive situation."

The NEC voiced deep regret over the official's death, saying the commission takes the incident "seriously."

"It is deeply regrettable that he lost his precious life after suffering from severe psychological distress due to the ongoing investigation," it said in a statement.

The special counsel team launched its investigation on Sept. 7 to look into a series of allegations surrounding the NEC. Earlier Wednesday, the team raided the home of former NEC Chairman Roh Tae-ak to collect evidence.

National Election Commission (Yonhap)

yusbvtyhtoo@yna.co.kr (END)

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(LEAD) Election official found dead after special counsel questioning

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（注意：在第 7-8 段中添加 NEC 的声明）

首尔，10 月 21 日（韩联社）——一名韩国国家选举委员会（NEC）官员周三被发现死亡，此前一天，他曾因地方选举中前所未有的选票短缺问题接受特别检察官小组的质询。

据消息人士透露，这名40多岁的官员于早上7点06分在首尔以南约45公里处的华城市一栋公寓楼的花坛里被发现，遗体旁留有一封遗书，表达了他在接受讯问期间的不满。警方怀疑他是从公寓跳楼自杀。

调查小组一直在调查选票短缺的原因，以及与选举相关的物资合同中是否存在腐败或违规行为，例如去年总统选举和 6 月 3 日地方选举中使用的提前投票箱和投票站横幅。

死者周二因涉嫌妨碍招标程序和违反信托义务，被调查组办公室列为嫌疑人并接受讯问。讯问于晚上8点55分左右结束，该官员在审阅完讯问期间的供述后，于晚上10点40分离开办公室。

特别检察官团队对此事表示慰问，但否认存在任何不公平待遇。

“我们对死者表示深切哀悼，”调查组表示。“从嫌疑人自愿审查和修改供词的情况来看，不存在胁迫情况。”

美国国家经济委员会对该官员的去世表示深切遗憾，并表示委员会“严肃对待”这起事件。

声明中说：“令人深感遗憾的是，由于持续的调查，他遭受了严重的心理创伤，最终失去了宝贵的生命。”

特别检察官小组于9月7日启动调查，以查明围绕国家选举委员会（NEC）的一系列指控。周三早些时候，该小组突击搜查了前NEC主席卢泰旭的住所，以收集证据。

国家选举委员会（韩联社）

yusbvtyhtoo@yna.co.kr (完)

（导语）前选举监督机构负责人住所因不当海外旅行遭搜查

特别检察官称，30个地方选举委员会篡改了选民投票率数据。

（导语）特别检察官小组突击搜查选举监督机构，调查选票短缺问题

（导语）选举官员在特别检察官质询后被发现死亡