The National Election Commission held a “Meeting for Providing Written Comprehensive Management Guidelines for the 18^th Presidential Election” on June 5. About 100 executives of Si/Do election commissions nationwide attended the meeting where they received written management directions and management measures for each area.

Mr. Jong-Woo Lee, Secretary General of the NEC made a speech in which he stated impartial election management is the reason for existence of the NEC and the core value the NEC should pursue. He also stressed that the NEC must maintain its fairness and neutrality and comply with the laws and guidelines to get thoroughly prepared for the upcoming election without any mistake. In addition, the Secretary General requested the attendees to make every effort to maintain and advance the basis for voter-oriented elections that was promoted in the 19^th National Assembly elections.

The guidelines provided in the meeting include the following:

▲    Illegal activities in intra party competitions conducted by political parties

▲    Illegal election campaigns for a specific candidate conducted by private organizations

▲    Central and local government officers involved in elections

▲    Release of false information and defamation/propaganda

▲    Provision of monetary gift and meals

The NEC has designated the above as serious electoral crimes and will intensively control these illegal activities by increasing personnel for monitoring and preventing violations from July.

Especially, there were controversial issues over the process of intra party competition for the 19^th National Assembly elections. The NEC is therefore determined to reinforce enforcement actions against vote buying, illegal election campaign, illegal preliminary election campaign, donation, etc. in intra party competitions for the upcoming Presidential Election.

Furthermore, in case of presidential elections, the NEC is concerned that there will be a higher chance of illegal activities by private organizations that have a preference for a specific candidate. The NEC will therefore focus on guidance and prevention activities. It will also take strong action without exception against any private organization illegally engaging in elections or receiving illegal funds from political parties and candidates. Strong actions will include reporting to the police or the prosecution and dismissing the organization concerned.

Additionally, the NEC is determined to take strict action against government agencies and public officers illegally engaging in elections regardless of their positions. Especially, as Election Day comes closer, it is expected that there will be more controversies over heads of local governments getting involved in elections. Each Si/Do election commission will accordingly prepare and implement preventive measures.

Also, the NEC will take prompt action against defamation and propaganda by requesting the person concerned to submit supporting evidences, carrying out investigation and releasing the results. In particular, the NEC will promote the 50 times penalty and maximum 500 million KRW reward system to prevent the public from expecting monetary gifts and to encourage voters’ reports of any illegal activities.

Meanwhile, in the meeting, management measures for each area were discussed as follows to promote voters’ convenience and for fair and accurate election management:

▲    Expand participation in the electoral process such as voting and counting by the personnel concerned including political party members and observers.

▲    Prioritize voters’ convenience in establishing polling stations

▲    Expand support to vulnerable voters, including those with disability or from international marriage families

▲    Improve service of providing information on how to get to polling stations and real-time update on voting and counting, etc.

Also, the NEC has shown its determination to thoroughly manage shipboard voting which will be introduced for the first time in the 18^th Presidential Election and to provide special measures against illegal activities such as infringing rights to secret ballots by using one’s position as a captain.