Kim Ki-heon, a lawmaker from the People Power Party, speaks at an invitation-only legislative hearing for the Ulsan International Garden Expo bill held at the National Assembly Members' Office Building in Yeouido, Seoul, on November 20, 2025. [Yonhap News photo]

Kim Ki-heon, a lawmaker from the People Power Party representing Ulsan Nam-eul, pointed out on the 18th that individuals from the Democratic Party accompanied officials from the National Election Commission (NEC) on "overseas trips" that have surfaced as an issue of lax discipline within the NEC, triggered by the recent ballot paper shortage incident.

According to the "Recent Five-Year Status of NEC Staff Overseas Travel" received from the NEC, Kim stated that two Democratic Party staff members accompanied the NEC on their overseas trip for the 22nd General Election overseas voting preparations in 2023.

Kim said that one Democratic Party staff member accompanied the NEC on a 2-night, 3-day trip to Osaka, Japan, in August 2023. The expenses for the three NEC staff members and one Democratic Party staff member amounted to approximately 7.3 million won.

At the same time, another Democratic Party staff member participated in a 4-night, 5-day trip to Siem Reap, Cambodia, home to the World Heritage site Angkor Wat, along with four NEC staff members. The budget used for this trip totaled 15.4 million won, Kim reported.

These trips were not subject to overseas travel review, citing "overseas travel for specific and concrete task performance." Kim explained that while overseas training sessions involving political parties typically allocate personnel to each party, this practice was abolished after 2023.

Kim stated, "Both the Democratic Party, which unthinkingly joined overseas trips funded by taxpayer money, and the NEC, which claimed to be inspecting systems but only brought along representatives from a specific party, are equally problematic. A thorough investigation into 'shoddy trips' where taxpayer money was wasted, as well as the flawed election, is necessary."