"Election Held Amid National Crisis" Statement by Foreign, Justice, and Interior Ministers Announced

"'Request for Understanding on Suspension of Overseas Election Affairs Due to 'COVID-19'... Strict Crackdown on Illegal and Unlawful Election Campaigning'"

On the afternoon of the 1st, one day before the official start of the election campaign for the 21st National Assembly election on April 15, officials at the Jongno District Election Commission in Seoul are organizing candidates' election brochures. Photo by Kang Jin-hyung aymsdream@

[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Cheol-young] Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-wha, Minister of Justice Choo Mi-ae, and Minister of the Interior and Safety Jin Young jointly issued a "public statement" at the Government Seoul Office on the 2nd, the start date of the election campaign period for the 21st National Assembly election, expressing the government's commitment to creating a safe voting environment and practicing fair elections.

The campaign period for the 21st National Assembly election is from the 2nd to the 14th.

The announcement of the statement was made to express the government's strong determination to create a voting environment where citizens can vote with peace of mind, as this election is held amid the national crisis of COVID-19, and to urge fair elections and voter participation.

Through the statement, the ministers requested understanding from overseas nationals in regions where overseas voting cannot be conducted due to the spread of COVID-19, not only domestically but also abroad, and stated that in countries where overseas voting is being conducted, overseas diplomatic missions and Korean communities will cooperate to ensure safe voting.

Additionally, they added that the government will spare no support at the pan-government level to ensure citizens can vote with confidence, including disinfection and sterilization of voting and counting stations and the provision of temporary voting booths for voters with abnormal symptoms.

They emphasized that illegal and illicit election campaigns will be thoroughly cracked down on, with a focus on strict punishment for bribery, fake news in cyberspace, and other offenses.

Through the statement, the ministers said, "We will strengthen inspection activities to prevent election-related conduct by public officials and administrative gaps caused by election atmosphere, and will impose severe penalties for violations to establish public service discipline," and added, "We will do our best to create a safe voting environment in cooperation with the Central Election Commission."

Meanwhile, the ministers urged active participation in practicing social distancing inside polling stations, such as wearing masks and maintaining distance from the person in front, to ensure a safe election.