99 Candidates for Gyeongnam Saemaeul Geumgo Chairman Election... 46 Elected Unopposed

There are 99 candidates from 70 credit unions in the Gyeongnam region running in the 1st Nationwide Simultaneous Saemaeul Geumgo Chairman Election to be held on April 2.

The Gyeongnam Election Commission announced that the candidate registration, which took place over two days starting from the 18th, ended with an average competition rate of 1.4 to 1.

Among them, 46 credit unions had only one candidate registered, resulting in uncontested elections.

For credit unions with a single candidate, the candidate is declared elected the day after the election without a vote.

Election campaigns will be conducted in the remaining credit unions from February 20 to March 4.

The Gyeongnam Election Commission is conducting the "Hanging the Hope Pledge Fruits of Saemaeul Geumgo I Wish For" campaign at Bethel Saemaeul Geumgo. Provided by Gyeongnam Election Commission

Each candidate may campaign using methods stipulated in the Entrusted Election Act that correspond to the election type, such as direct election, general assembly, or delegate meeting.

Candidates and campaign workers may use telephone calls for direct communication between sender and receiver or send text messages excluding voice, video, or multimedia messages.

However, campaigning via phone or text messages is prohibited from 10 p.m. to 7 a.m.

Additionally, candidates may post texts or videos on internet homepage bulletin boards or chat rooms, and send texts, voice, video, or multimedia messages via email, online messengers, Band, or other social networking services (SNS).

The Election Commission will post election posters prepared and submitted by candidates on the main office bulletin boards of credit unions by February 24 and mail election brochures with voting instructions to voters by February 25.

The term of office for the Saemaeul Geumgo chairman is four years, from March 21, 2024, to March 20, 2029, with the possibility of one re-election.

Key election information, including candidates, can be checked on the 1st Nationwide Simultaneous Saemaeul Geumgo Chairman Election Statistics System.

Earlier, the Gyeongnam Election Commission has been making every effort to raise public interest in this election and ensure it is conducted fairly.

They have conducted campaigns such as the ‘Walking Challenge: Our Neighborhood Saemaeul Geumgo’ via the WalkOn app, a visiting voting participation promotion campaign targeting local Saemaeul Geumgo branches, and the ‘Hanging the Hope Pledge Fruit I Wish for Saemaeul Geumgo’ campaign.

Furthermore, on the 18th, they reported to the police Mr. A, a certain credit union chairman suspected of bribery by offering a full-time director position in exchange for not running, and Mr. B, an acquaintance suspected of encouraging and mediating the bribery.

A Gyeongnam Election Commission official stated, “We will do our best to manage this Saemaeul Geumgo chairman election fairly and accurately according to relevant laws and credit union bylaws. We hope candidates compete fairly with policies and pledges, and voters carefully examine pledges and candidates before making their choice.”