Supreme Court Justice Roh Tae-ak nominated as election watchdog chief

Supreme Court Justice Roh Tae-ak / Korea Times file

Supreme Court Justice Roh Tae-ak was nominated Friday to head the National Election Commission (NEC), following the resignation offer by the current chairperson over the watchdog's mishandling of some ballots in the March presidential election.

Supreme Court Chief Justice Kim Meong-su picked Roh to replace Noh Jeong-hee, who tendered her resignation Monday following criticism over the mishandling of votes cast by COVID-19 patients during early voting for last month's election.

Kim praised Roh as a legal expert with "a wide range of trial experience" and well versed in the theory and practice of law. The nominee began his judicial career in 1990 and joined the Supreme Court in 2020.

The chief justice is expected to soon ask the National Assembly to hold a confirmation hearing for Roh. (Yonhap)