Seoul: Prosecutors on Tuesday indicted Kim Se-hwan, former secretary general of the National Election Commission (NEC), on charges of abusing his authority to unfairly hire his son and providing him with various privileges. The Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office said Kim has been indicted without detention on charges of abuse of authority and violation of the National Civil Service Act.According to Yonhap News Agency, the former secretary general is accused of improperly influencing the hiring process from November to December of 2019 to ensure his son's employment as a civil servant at the Ganghwa County office of the NEC's Incheon division. Kim allegedly violated regulations again by transferring his son to the Incheon NEC headquarters after just one year and providing him with a government housing allowance against the rules.Investigations revealed that at the time, Kim, then serving as NEC vice secretary general, appointed a close associate as a hiring panel member and even informed them about his son's application prior to an interview. Despite a conflict-of-interest obligation to recuse himself, Kim directly approved his son's transfer to the new position, according to prosecutors.Prosecutors opened an investigation in April following a referral from the Board of Audit and Inspection. Probes are also under way into other hiring irregularities involving current and former NEC officials.
- September 13, 2026
