The National Election Commission Suspends Election Operations at 23 Overseas Missions in 17 Countries... No Voting for the General Election

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Dongwoo Lee] The National Election Commission announced on the 26th that it has decided to suspend overseas election operations at 23 overseas diplomatic missions in 17 countries, including the Embassy of the Republic of Korea in Italy, until the 6th of next month due to the spread of the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19).

Following the Commission's decision, it has become practically impossible for overseas Koreans in these regions to participate in the April 15 general election voting.

The affected countries include Italy, Germany, Spain, Ireland, the United Kingdom, Kyrgyzstan, France, Ghana, South Africa, Nepal, India, Papua New Guinea, the Philippines, Ecuador, Honduras, and Colombia. In the United States, the Republic of Korea Office in Hag?t?a, Guam, is included.

This decision by the Commission is the second since the suspension of overseas election operations at the Consulate General of the Republic of Korea in Wuhan, China, on the 16th.

The Commission stated, "Considering that nationwide self-quarantine, complete travel bans, and restrictions on going out are being enforced in the target countries, with penalties for violations making it impossible to guarantee the safety of overseas voters participating in the election, the closure of diplomatic missions, and the difficulty in operating overseas polling stations due to election management personnel working from home, as well as taking into account the host countries' government positions and the opinions of the heads of diplomatic missions, we have carefully reviewed and decided to suspend overseas election operations."

The Commission plans to suspend additional operations in regions where the spread of COVID-19 is intensifying. It said, "We will monitor the situation of host country sanctions in areas such as the eastern United States, where COVID-19 is rapidly spreading, and if it is judged that it is difficult to ensure the safety of overseas Koreans, we will consult with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and decide on further suspension of overseas election operations."

It also emphasized that it will establish disinfection measures at overseas polling stations and strengthen COVID-19 infection prevention activities, such as maintaining a distance of more than 1 meter between voters inside polling stations and providing disinfectant supplies.