Election official found dead after special counsel questioning

A National Election Commission official was found dead in an apartment building flowerbed in Hwaseong at 7:06 a.m. Wednesday, a day after special counsel questioning over alleged election-supply bidding irregularities. Police suspect he jumped from his apartment, and a suicide note reportedly expressed grievances about the questioning. The special counsel team denied coercion, while the NEC said it took the death seriously.

The official, who was in his 40s, was questioned as a suspect over alleged obstruction of the bidding process and breach of trust.

Questioning ended around 8:55 p.m. Tuesday, and the official left the office at 10:40 p.m. after reviewing his statement.

The investigation concerns ballot shortages and possible corruption or irregularities in contracts for election supplies, including early voting ballot boxes and voting-site banners used in last year’s presidential election and the June 3 local elections.

The special counsel team launched its investigation on Sept. 7, and earlier Wednesday it raided former NEC Chairman Roh Tae-ak’s home to collect evidence.

Published Oct 21, 2026 4:09 pm KST

Updated Oct 21, 2026 4:30 pm KST

National Election Commission in Gwacheon, Gyeonggi Province / 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.

韩国国家选举委员会一名官员于周三早上7点06分被发现死于华城市一栋公寓楼的花坛中。此前一天，他因涉嫌选举物资招标违规行为接受了特别调查组的质询。警方怀疑他从公寓跳楼身亡，据报道，遗书中表达了对质询的不满。特别调查组否认存在胁迫行为，而国家选举委员会则表示高度重视此事。

这名40多岁的官员因涉嫌妨碍招标过程和违反信任而被作为嫌疑人接受讯问。

周二晚上 8 点 55 分左右，询问结束，该官员在审阅完声明后于晚上 10 点 40 分离开办公室。

此次调查涉及选票短缺以及选举用品合同中可能存在的腐败或违规行为，包括去年总统选举和 6 月 3 日地方选举中使用的提前投票箱和投票站横幅。

特别检察官小组于9月7日展开调查，并于周三早些时候突击搜查了前NEC董事长卢泰旭的住所，以收集证据。

发布于2026年10月21日下午4:09（韩国标准时间）

更新于2026年10月21日下午4:30（韩国标准时间）

京畿道果川市国家选举委员会/韩联社

国家选举委员会（NEC）一名官员于周三被发现死亡，此前一天，他曾接受特别检察官小组的质询，该小组正在调查该选举监督机构与地方选举中前所未有的选票短缺有关的情况。

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。