NEC Strengthening Information on and Prevention of Election Crimes Ahead of the Chuseok Holiday​

= Information on cases of election crimes to prevent violations caused by a lack of knowledge of election law  =

The National Election Commission (NEC) of the Republic of Korea is set to strengthen information on and prevention of election crimes ahead of the upcoming Chuseok (thanksgiving) holiday.

The NEC instructed Si/Do and Gu/Si/Gun Election Commission to provide Information on cases of election crimes to political parties, National Assembly members, local council members, heads of local governments and prospective candidates to prevent violations caused by a lack of knowledge of election law.

Major acts prohibited under the Public Official Election Act include: 

• Providing money, food or other items to voters at gatherings or events.

• Providing gifts such as fruit in a candidate’s name in public locations such as a senior citizens center in the prospective candidates’ constituency.

• Posting a banner to illicit support using the pretext of a holiday greeting on a street.

• Distributing party policy promotional material to voters that includes provisional candidate''s promises or that illicit support for a prospective candidate. 

However, the following activities are allowed under the law:

• Providing donations or goods to national organizations, corporations, or organizations that administer and conduct charitable projects.

• Visiting an organization where conscripted servicemen are on duty or military unit within the constituency and offering condolence gifts or money.

• Sending holiday greetings on SNS, for example via text messages, Twitter, Facebook, or KakaoTalk.

• Distributing promotional material on the streets promoting a party’s policies or position on political issues that does not support, recommend, or object a particular party or prospective candidate outside the campaign period.

Even during the holiday season, the NEC will continue to run the phone line to either receive information on or report election law violations, and the NEC requests that anyone who has information to report election violations by calling 1390 from anywhere in the country.