First Implementation on March 5 Next Year... Jeonbuk Election Commission Begins Work
Amendment to Consigned Election Law and Establishment of Preliminary Candidate System
Reward Up to 300 Million Won for Reporting 'Money Elections'
The Jeonbuk Special Self-Governing Province Election Commission (hereinafter, Jeonbuk Election Commission) will entrust and manage the 1st Nationwide Simultaneous Saemaeul Geumgo Chairman Election (hereinafter 'Simultaneous Chairman Election'), which will be held for the first time on March 5 next year, starting from the 21st.
According to the Jeonbuk Election Commission on the 19th, from this 1st Simultaneous Chairman Election, the district, city, and county election commissions under jurisdiction will be mandatorily entrusted to simultaneously elect the chairmen of 55 Saemaeul Geumgo branches in the province. Until now, the Saemaeul Geumgo chairman elections were managed independently by each Geumgo.
In the past, in entrusted elections such as cooperative head elections, problems have been pointed out that both candidates and voters were easily exposed to the temptation of bribery due to limited campaign methods for candidates and insufficient information about candidates for voters. In response to these criticisms, the 'Entrusted Election Act' was amended on January 30 this year (effective July 31). The newly established preliminary candidate system and expanded campaign methods will be applied to this Simultaneous Chairman Election.
The main contents of the amended Entrusted Election Act include ▲ establishment of a preliminary candidate system for cooperative head and Geumgo chairman elections ▲ mandatory criminal record checks and publication of criminal records in election bulletins for those intending to become candidates ▲ allowing one person designated by the (preliminary) candidate, such as spouse or direct ascendants/descendants, to also campaign ▲ provision of virtual phone numbers for voters' mobile phones for election campaigning.
The Jeonbuk Election Commission stated, "In accordance with the amended Entrusted Election Act, we will manage this Simultaneous Chairman Election cleanly and fairly," and requested, "Prospective candidates of each Geumgo should comply with the preliminary candidate system and other campaign methods and compete fairly with policies and pledges."
Furthermore, regarding the Simultaneous Chairman Election, a reward of up to 300 million KRW will be paid to those who report organized money elections. Those who receive money, goods, or food may be fined from 10 to 50 times the amount received, up to a maximum of 30 million KRW, according to the 'Entrusted Election Act,' so caution is advised.
Meanwhile, the Jeonbuk Election Commission plans to reduce fines for those who voluntarily report receiving money or food and, depending on the case, also provide reward money, actively encouraging reports and tips on entrusted election crimes. For any inquiries or reports related to illegal activities concerning the Simultaneous Chairman Election, anyone nationwide can call 1390.
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