The National Election Commission has requested corporate associations such as the Korea Chamber of Commerce & Industry and civic groups in an official letter to avoid holding a meeting or an event on Election Day that may hinder executives and employees of their member corporations/groups from casting their votes.

The NEC stressed in its official letter that the purpose of designating ‘Election Day’ as a public holiday according to ‘Regulation on Public Holidays for Government Employees’ is to ensure people will be able to exercise their voting rights. The NEC has requested each corporation and organization to take a lead in guaranteeing voting rights.

Meanwhile, the NEC already sent an official letter dated November 27 to Government Ministries such as the Ministry of Public Administration and Security and the Ministry of Employment and Labor. The NEC requested the Ministries in the letter to ensure employees of their affiliated agencies and organizations can spare time to vote in accordance with Article 6 of the Public Official Election Act and Article 10 of the Labor Standards Act.

In particular, field workers, temporary employees and day workers have difficulty casting their votes. The NEC has therefore requested labor supervisors to remind owners and employers of the relevant laws to allow employees enough time to vote.

According to Article 6 of the Public Official Election Act, public officials, students or anyone employed by others shall be allowed time for voting, which shall not be regarded as a day off or a holiday.

Article 10 of the Labor Standards Act prescribes that employers shall not refuse a request by employees for time necessary to exercise their voting rights and civil rights or to execute their official duties. However, the time requested may be adjusted unless it disrupts exercise of rights or execution of duties. Meanwhile, Article 110 of the same act specifies that anyone violating Article 10 shall be sentenced to imprisonment of less than 2 years or a fine of less than KRW 10 million.

The NEC has kindly requested each organization, group and corporation to take a lead in allowing their members, executives and staff time for voting as suffrage is an inviolable right guaranteed by the constitution.