According to the National Election Commission, 89.2 billion KRW has been reimbursed to the political parties and candidates that took part in the 19^th National Assembly elections in accordance with the Public Official Election Act, Clause 122-2. 

The election commissions have organized task forces to investigate reimbursement claims for and audit reports on election expenses submitted by 4 political parties and 574 candidates. The task forces have been composed of 3,800 personnel from the NEC and each Si/Do/Gu/Si/Gun election commission. They carried out a documentary investigation as well as a field investigation over 50 days to find out if the claims are legitimate.

Following the investigation, the election commissions have reimbursed 89.2 billion KRW out of the total claim amount of 102.5 billion KRW.

Below are the details of reimbursement paid for the 19^th National Assembly elections expenses:

▲    574 out of 928 candidates for district representatives have been entitled to reimbursement for election expenses. The number of those who have received the full reimbursement is 537 (the number includes the elected and the candidates who have gained more than 15/100 of the total valid vote). Meanwhile, the number of those who have been reimbursed for 50% of the total expenses is 37 (the number includes the candidates who gained more than 10/100 but less than 15/100 of the total valid vote).

▲    By the type of elections, candidates for district representatives have submitted a reimbursement claim of 83.5 billion KRW while proportional representation candidates have claimed reimbursement of 18.9 billion KRW. The former has been reimbursed 70.8 billion KRW, which is 84.8% of the total claim amount. This is also 64.4% of the limit set for local district election expenses, 110.1 billion KRW. The latter, on the other hand, has been reimbursed 18.3 billion KRW, which is 96.8% of the total claim amount. This amount also refers to 89.2% of the limit set for proportional representation election expenses, 20.5 billion KRW.

▲    The following are details of reimbursement amount reduced by the election commissions. The reduced amount of 11.1 billion KRW includes the claim amount exceeding the standard market price, election expenses by preliminary candidates, expenses on illegal activities, expenses on purchasing items not used for election, etc. The pending reimbursement amount incurred by candidates being charged with crimes or being reported to the Prosecution by the election commissions is 180 million KRW. Also, the amount reimbursed to the candidates who are entitled to 50% of the election expenses but have claimed the full reimbursement is 200 million KRW. The total reimbursement amount which has been reduced by the election commission adds to 13.3 billion KRW.

▲    As for the reimbursement for local district election expenses, it has increased by 7.8 billion KRW from 75.7 billion KRW reimbursed for the 18^th National Assembly elections. This has been attributed to an increase in the standard market price, the criteria for determining the reimbursement amount. It has also resulted from a rise in the election expenses limit.

▲    Meanwhile, in accordance with the Public Official Election Act, Clause 122-2, Article 3, 1.14 billion KRW has been given to the political parties and candidates concerning the following, regardless of their shares of the vote: Making and mailing braille election leaflets and reimbursement for allowances and actual expenses to assistants.   

According to the NEC, if it is found that any reimbursement has been paid for expenses on illegal activities or falsely reported, the political parties and candidates concerned shall be requested to return the amount reimbursed even after the reimbursement has already been paid.