[Exclusive] "Employees Leaving Amid May Presidential Election Rumors"… Election Commission Already Has 129 Leave of Absences This Year

Sharp Rise in Leave-Takers Before Past Presidential, Local, and General Elections
Vacancies Filled Through Career Recruitment
Severe Moral Hazard at the NEC

The National Election Commission (NEC) is struggling with recruitment corruption, and it has been confirmed that as many as 129 employees were on leave just in January this year. The NEC has faced criticism for moral hazard as a large number of employees took leave ahead of elections, and there are concerns that the number of leave-takers may increase further this year due to the possibility of an early presidential election.

According to a compilation of reports by Asia Economy on the 6th, as of January 31, the number of NEC employees on leave was 129 (including 4 indefinite contract workers), accounting for 4.3% of the total 2,982 employees. Among the 129 on leave, 86 were on parental leave, and 43 were on leave for other reasons such as illness or family care. Considering that in 2021, the number of employees on leave was only 83 as of the end of February?not even January?the increase in leave-takers this year is significant.

At the NEC, the surge in leave-takers during the busiest election seasons has become a habitual pattern. This has led to suspicions that employees may be using leave to avoid heavy workloads. In 2022, when the presidential election and the simultaneous local elections overlapped, the number of employees on leave soared to 204 by the end of February. After the elections, by the end of February 2023, the number of leave-takers decreased to 159.

The occurrence of a large number of leave-takers ahead of election seasons is not new. There is criticism that employees responsible for managing elections choose to take leave just before the peak election period to avoid frequent overtime work. In fact, the issue of leave during election seasons regularly emerges as a recurring topic during the National Assembly’s annual audit season.

Noh Tae-ak, Chairman of the Central Election Commission, is commuting to the Central Election Commission office building in Gwacheon, Gyeonggi Province. Photo by Yonhap News

The NEC is aware of the external critical views but states that it is practically impossible to prevent employees from taking leave. An NEC official explained, "According to the current NEC civil service regulations, there are no provisions to restrict employees from taking leave," adding, "Recently, the low birthrate is severe, and as the government promotes work-family balance, the number of male employees taking parental leave is increasing, leading to a rise in leave-takers."

There are also internal calls for self-reflection regarding the 'leave during election season' issue. Some employees feel that the moral hazard displayed by a few affects even those who work diligently. A local NEC official confessed, "It is true that when the number of leave-takers increases ahead of difficult and burdensome elections, it raises concerns."

This year, there is a possibility of an early presidential election in May depending on the Constitutional Court’s impeachment trial result of President Yoon Suk-yeol. The final ruling by the Constitutional Court will be announced in mid-March, and if an early election is confirmed, the number of leave-takers could surge. The NEC is troubled by the fact that there are no separate regulations restricting leave, meaning employees could take leave even the day before the election, making it virtually impossible to prevent.

It is also noteworthy that the NEC has been filling the gaps left by employees on leave through regular career recruitment. The recent audit by the Board of Audit and Inspection uncovered cases of preferential hiring related to career recruitment. An NEC official said, "This year is a special situation, and if an early election is decided, it may not be easy to immediately fill the vacancies," adding, "To reduce work gaps, we are continuously monitoring those planning to take leave and are considering measures such as giving personnel advantages to employees working during the election season."