Opposition to Mandatory Mobilization Mainly Targeting Local Public Officials in Public Elections!

On the 9th at 11 AM, Basic Local Government Committee Chairs affiliated with the Public Officials Federation gathered at the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions Yeouido office to adopt a resolution opposing the semi-coercive mobilization of local public officials by the Election Commission and calling to return the management of public elections to the people.

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Jong-il] On the morning of the 9th at 11 a.m., chairpersons of basic local government committees affiliated with the Public Officials Federation gathered at the Korean Federation of Trade Unions Yeouido office to hold a fundamental countermeasure meeting regarding the semi-coercive mobilization of local public officials by the Election Commission.

The meeting was chaired by Lee Sang-yeop, chairman of the Special Committee for Improvement of Public Election Affairs, and was attended by Jang Hye-jin, chairperson of Goyang City who led the refusal movement of 13 basic local governments in Gyeonggi Province in 2020; Jang Dong-ik, chairperson of Gapyeong County Office; Kang Yoon-gyun, chairperson of Yongin City Office; Park Un-pyeong, chairperson of Guri City Office; Jeong Wan-soon, secretary general of Jeonju City Office; Lim Sung-chul, head of the Seoul headquarters of the Integrated Union; Kwon Soon-pyo, branch chief of Gangnam District Office; Kim Jae-geun, deputy branch chief; and Park Sang-wan, manager of Mokpo City Office.

Although election workers and staff during election duties can be appointed from national (local) public officials, teachers, banks, and public institutions, it has been problematic that local public officials have been mobilized every election without proper compensation simply because it was convenient to use them as a matter of custom.

They pointed out that over the past two years, local public officials have been burdened with excessive duties such as self-quarantine, epidemiological investigations, and quarantine work every other day due to COVID-19, neglecting their original duties, and yet the Election Commission is trying to mobilize only local public officials for election work that involves more than 16 hours of continuous operation.

Each basic local government chairperson opposed the forced mobilization of mostly local public officials for public elections and adopted a resolution to “return the operation of public elections to the people.”

The agreed meeting results will be used as an agenda item at the joint meeting between the city/county/district Election Commission and labor unions scheduled for the 21st.

Special Committee Chairman Lee Sang-yeop stated, “If the city, county, and district Election Commissions do not make efforts to allocate election personnel fairly, realize allowances, and improve various systems such as special leave, we are also considering strong measures such as a complete refusal of election duties.”