NEC Requests Public Organizations Reinforce Checks into Public Officials Involvement in Elections

= Strict measures will be taken against government employees engaging in elections =

The National Election Commission (NEC) of the Republic of Korea sent out an official letter on January 30 requesting national public agencies establish discipline and strengthen their inspection activities and sent a booklet on the "Prohibition of Civil Servants Participating in Elections" to improve education to ensure that civil servants do not become involved in the upcoming election. 

The NEC also instructed Si/Do and Gu/Si/Gun Election Commissions to undertake special measures to prevent and crackdown against illegal activities by civil servants, local public organizations or national activist groups. 

The NEC will focus on precautionary and preventive measures such as conducting special training for local government and education officials, sending a list of the names of civil servants by rank, and encouraging neutrality in the election through consultation with public labor unions and organizations.

The NEC also plans to actively crack down on illegal activities by observing educational events organized by local governments or national activist groups and by monitoring SNS activities by public officials.

In addition, the Incheon Metropolitan Election Commission filed a complaint with the prosecution on January 30 concerning the involvement of a civil servant in an election who prepared and distributed a press release containing SNS posts made by the head of a local organization. This is the first case of involvement by a civil servant in one of the upcoming local elections. 

The NEC said that it would take strong action against any violations considering that even suspicion of involvement in elections by civil servants can affect the legitimacy of the election and result in decreased public trust in election results. ​