Gwangju City Election Commission Strengthens Illegal Activity Prevention for Next Year's Local Elections

[Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Yoon Jamin] The Gwangju Metropolitan City Election Commission is strengthening its activities to prevent illegal acts ahead of next year's nationwide simultaneous local elections.

On the 29th, the Gwangju Election Commission announced that starting from December 3, which is 180 days before the election day, it will inform local governments, political parties, prospective candidates, and others about restricted and prohibited acts and major violation cases, and will enhance prevention and crackdown activities.

The Public Official Election Act restricts or prohibits certain acts that may influence elections from 180 days before the election day until the election day to ensure equal opportunities for candidates' election campaigns and to prevent the fairness of elections from being compromised by illegal acts.

Local government heads (including superintendents of education) are prohibited from publishing, distributing, or broadcasting promotional materials (including leaflets, newsletters, publications, facilities, audio or video materials, other promotional materials, and cases using newspapers or broadcasts) that inform about the business plans, achievements, or activities of local governments (including education offices). Attendance at private events (such as cultural lectures held by community centers and events held by non-public organizations during working hours) is also restricted.

Institutions, organizations, or facilities established or operated by political parties or candidates cannot engage in acts that influence elections targeting constituents, nor can they publicize the establishment or activities of such institutions or organizations to constituents using posters, banners, broadcasts, newspapers, communications, magazines, printed materials, or other methods under the name of the political party or candidate or in a way that infers such names.

Furthermore, no one may install or post advertisements such as signboards or banners, wear or distribute badges or other identification, produce or sell symbolic items such as dolls or mascots representing candidates, or distribute, attach, screen, or post advertisements, greeting cards, posters, photos, documents, drawings, printed materials, audio or video materials containing content supporting, recommending, or opposing political parties or candidates, or displaying their names or titles, to influence elections.

Accordingly, street banners and other facilities displaying the names or photos of prospective local election candidates must be voluntarily removed by December 2, the day before 180 days prior to the election day.

The Gwangju Election Commission actively informs local government heads in the Gwangju area, political parties, prospective candidates, and related institutions and organizations about relevant laws and major violation cases to prevent violations due to ignorance of the law. It has distributed the booklet "Guidance on Prohibition of Election Involvement by Public Officials" to local governments, education offices, and public institutions for use in educating affiliated public officials and employees of subordinate organizations.

Especially, with the two major elections next year approaching, the commission plans to focus on cracking down on election involvement by public officials. In case of illegal acts despite prior guidance, a metropolitan investigation team will be deployed simultaneously, and scientific investigation techniques such as mobile phone forensics and Digital Authentication Service (DAS) will be actively utilized for strict measures.

For inquiries about election laws or to report illegal acts, call 1390 from anywhere nationwide.