The NEC Submits Proposals on Political Law Amendments

= Proposal to ban candidates from resigning after the deadline for candidate registration, change voting age to 18, allow the upload of a photo alluding to a candidate’s symbol and election campaigning using social media on election day, permit election campaigning by fan clubs, allow Gu/Si/Gun party offices under the condition of the income and expenditure of political funds to be made public, revival of PFA’s for political parties =

The National Election Commission (NEC) of the Republic of Korea submitted proposals on political law amendments to the National Assembly on August 25 that expand freedom in election campaigning and meanwhile strengthens the voters’ rights to know and transparency in political funds. 

The current political laws do not reflect the change in political environment or the demands of the citizens and the NEC received feedback that the laws are focused on excessive regulation that restricts both freedom of political campaigns and the participation of voters.

In order to solve these issues, the NEC held a public hearing, including representatives from political parties, academia, the media and civic groups to gather opinions on amendments to improve the system and confirmed the final propose at a meeting of the full Commission. 

Above all else, proposals include greater freedoms in political campaigns through changes such as allowing campaigning by word of mouth and by phone at all times, allowing any voter to campaign during the campaign period using signs and pops, and allowing voluntarily established fan clubs of politicians to campaign. 

Also, in order to promote pledge-based elections, proposals to strengthen the verification of pledges were made. Accordingly, the candidate registration period will be conducted earlier for the candidate to develop pledges and for voters to verify candidates, and a system will be introduced that checks the potential costs of pledges made by candidates. 

The proposals would lower the voting age to 18 and to protect the trust of the voters, the amendments attempt to ban candidates from resigning their candidacy after the end of the candidate registration period. 

The proposals set out allowing the Gu/Si/Gun party offices in order for political parties to better gather the people’s political ideas and the development of policies, ensuring that parties select their party chairperson by secret ballot to prevent the party from relegating to a one person’s party and impose rules that ensure the transparency of accounting to submit accounting reports.  

In addition, for a better environment for political fundraising, a system of political fund associations for political parties will be revived and transparency will be strengthened by making the income and expenditure of these funds publically available on the internet. In regards to national current subsidies, the proposals will ensure funds will be divided and distributed in ways that reflect the support of voters. 

The NEC emphasized that without legislation of such complementary measures, there is a danger of political reform retreating, because accomplishment of democracy within parties and the transparency of political funds are prerequisite to amendment proposals for developing Gu/Si/Gun political parties and reviving the political funds association system for political parties. 

Also, although it has not been included in these proposals, the NEC also expects to submit proposals after careful review regarding the method by which parties nominate candidates for public office.

Voices calling for amendments of political laws in line with a more mature election culture and the increase in political consciousness of the people has never been higher and the NEC is requesting a great deal of interest from academia, civic groups, the media and other groups in order to create a political consensus.