The National Election Commission launches a ‘Security Consultation Committee’ through which it can seek consultation on reliability and stability of voting and counting security processes for the 18^th Presidential Election and holds the first conference on August 3 at the National Assembly Election in Gwacheon.

Through the ‘Consultation Conference’ to be held for the first time in preparation for the 18^th Presidential Election, the NEC will evaluate and verify the security of equipment and information technology system used for voting and counting and present various opinions on how to make technical/systematic improvements in security.

The ‘Security Consultation Committee’ consists of a 9 members, including 4 national assembly members respectively from the Saenuri, the Democratic United, the United Progressive and the Advancement & Unification Party, a professor from the Korea University, President of National Information Society Agency, President of Korea Internet Security Agency, President of National IT Industry Promotion Agency and Secretary General of Citizens’ Coalition for Economic Justice. They have been appointed based on recommendation from major political parties, academic associations of information technology and public organizations.

The conference will include demonstration of electoral equipment such as a ballot paper sorting machine, a shield fax for shipboard voting etc. along with the election information system like the voting/counting system, followed by discussion and consultation on the security system.

In preparation for the 18^th Presidential Election, the NEC is scheduled to reflect the results for evaluation and verification by the ‘Security Consultation Committee’ on the voting/counting security system. The NEC also endeavors to find out ways to conduct the upcoming presidential election without a mistake by reestablishing guidelines and manuals on voting and counting management and reinforcing education and training for voting/counting personnel.