Gwangju City Election Commission Announces Calculation of Local Election Expense Limits

Market and Superintendent Elections Including 666 Million Won...

[Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Yoon Jamin] The Gwangju Metropolitan City Election Commission (hereinafter referred to as Gwangju Election Commission) has calculated and announced the limit on election expenses that candidates can use for election campaigns in the 8th nationwide simultaneous local elections to be held on June 1.

The election expenses limit for the Gwangju mayor and superintendent of education elections was calculated at 666 million KRW each.

For the elections of heads of basic local governments, the Buk-gu district mayor election has the highest limit at 214 million KRW, followed by Gwangsan-gu district mayor election at 202 million KRW, Seo-gu district mayor election at 175 million KRW, Nam-gu district mayor election at 158 million KRW, and Dong-gu district mayor election at 131 million KRW.

The election expense limit for local district council member elections is approximately 50.2 million KRW on average, and for proportional representation city council member elections, it is 118 million KRW.

The election expense limits for local district and proportional representation district council member elections are around 44.85 million KRW and 52.8 million KRW, respectively.

The election expense limits are calculated considering the population within the electoral district, the number of eup, myeon, and dong (administrative divisions), and the national consumer price index fluctuation rate. For this local election, a fluctuation rate of 5.1% was applied, resulting in a slight increase compared to the 7th local elections.

The election expense limit system was introduced to prevent excessive election campaigning and money politics, and to avoid unfairness in election campaigns due to economic disparities among candidates. Election expenses lawfully spent by local election candidates within the limit will be reimbursed by the respective local government after the election day.

If a candidate is elected or receives 15% or more of the total valid votes, the full amount is reimbursed; if the candidate receives between 10% and less than 15%, half of the amount is reimbursed to the candidate.

For proportional representation elections, if at least one candidate on the candidate list is elected, the full amount is reimbursed.

However, election expenses used by preliminary candidates, costs exceeding normal transaction prices without justifiable reasons, expenses not reported or falsely reported in accounting reports, etc., will not be reimbursed.

Written investigations and on-site inspections will be conducted to verify excessive or false reimbursement claims or reduction/omission of election expenses, and the reimbursable amount will be finalized accordingly.

Furthermore, to prevent fraudulent reimbursement such as inflating election expenses, if candidates fail to submit supporting documents such as receipts, contracts related to election expense payments, or objective evidence like photos verifying actual use without justifiable reasons, reimbursement will not be made.