NEC Strengthens Preventive Measures Against Election Law Violations 180 Days Before Local Elections

=  From December 15 the NEC will limit the heads of local governments acting to influence the election and prohibit illegal acts such as the distribution of printed material and installation of facilities =

Starting from December 15, The National Election Commission (NEC) of the Republic of Korea will strengthen the preventive measures against election law violations 180 days ahead of the 7th nationwide simultaneous local elections and by and re-elections for members of the National Assembly to be held on June 13 next year.

The Public Official Election Law restricts or prohibits certain activities that can affect the outcome of the election from 180 days before election day in order to guarantee equal campaign opportunity between candidates and prevent any acts that impact on the fairness of an elections. 

Firstly, from 180 days before the election until election day, the head of local governments will be prohibited from:

• Publishing, distributing or broadcasting PR material to inform the public about local government''s plans, promote the results of policies or their current status. 

• Participating in lectures and workshops held by a citizen’s centre or any events held by groups or organizations other than public organizations during working hours.

During the same period, organizations, groups or institutions that have been established or are operated by political parties or candidates are also prohibited from: 

• Targeting residents to affect the election.

• Advertising the establishment and activities in a way that can infer agreement with or be seen as an action in favour of a political party or candidate to residents.

In addition, no person can undertake the following activities in order to influence the outcome of the election:

• Installing or posting advertisements such as signs and banners 

• The act of wearing or distributing signs such as sashes or plaques 

• Producing or selling symbols such as dolls or mascots that represent political parties or candidates.

• Distributing, displaying or posting advertisements, greetings, photographs, recordings, prints, or wallpapers that contain the names of candidates or political parties or include content that supports or opposes political parties or candidates. 

The NEC has decided to establish an Election Law Information Center, which will be a dedicated department from January next year, in order to efficiently respond to telephone calls or Internet inquiries related to the Public Official Election Act and the NEC requests voters to pay special attention and to inquire about the relevant regulations in advance in order to prevent violations resulting from an unawareness of the laws.

Questions regarding elections can be put to experts by calling 1390 from anywhere nationwide, by checking the election law information system (http://law.nec.go.kr) or by downloading the mobile app ''election law information'' (m.1390.go.kr).