Seoul:Investigators have carried out a raid on the National Election Commission (NEC) headquarters for the second consecutive day, focusing on suspicions that the commission illegally disbursed monthly stipends to commissioners despite lacking a legal basis for such payments.

According to Yonhap News Agency, the independent counsel team led by special prosecutor Lee Tae-han mobilized 65 personnel, including four prosecutors, to search 18 NEC offices since Monday. These offices include those of the chairperson and the secretary general located in Gwacheon, just south of Seoul. Additionally, the home of a former secretary general was also subject to the search.

The investigation by the independent counsel team began in early September, following suspicions of irregularities within the NEC. The probe was primarily initiated to examine the unprecedented ballot shortages during June's nationwide local elections and identify those responsible. Among the issues under investigation are allegations that the NEC distributed monthly allowances to commissioners labeled as supporting their "fair election promotion activity." Since 2020, a total of 905.8 million won (approximately US$676,000) has been paid to nine commissioners, with annual totals exceeding 100 million won, which surpasses the threshold for the crime of causing losses to state coffers.

Despite warnings from the Board of Audit and Inspection that the payments lacked legal justification, the NEC is suspected of continuing the allowances by reallocating budgets meant for other purposes, as no budget was earmarked for these allowances for 2024-2025.