= Heads of Tong/Ri/Ban administrative districts should resign by January 7 if they wish to become campaign officials =

The National Election Commission (NEC) of the Republic of Korea announced that, for constituents in regions where re and by-elections will be held on April 7, certain events will be prohibited including reports on legislative activities by members of the National Assembly or local councils and presentations of publications.

In addition, those who wish to become election officials, such as Heads of Tong/Ri/Ban administrative districts or members of resident’s councils, must resign by January 7.

The following acts are restricted or prohibited from January 7 for constituents in the regions where re and by-elections will be held.

Restrictions on the Presentations of Publications and Reports on Legislative Activities

• No one can hold a presentation of a publication related to a candidates (from hereon in including those who intend to become a candidate).

• Members of the National Assembly or local councils are prohibited from reporting legislative activities through meetings or in reports regardless of their official duties or any other activities.

However, it is possible to post legislative activities on an internet homepage or on a bulletin board or chat room, and reporting legislative activities by e-mail or text message is allowed at any time.

Restrictions on Advertisements in the Name of the Candidates and Appearances by Candidates in Advertisements

• No person may advertise in work, entertainment, theatre productions, movies, photographs, or other articles representing the names of political parties or candidates in a manner other than those specified in the Public Official Election Act.

• Candidates may not appear in broadcasts, newspapers, magazines, or other advertisements.

Resignation of Persons Who Wish to Become a Campaign Official

• Heads of Tong/Ri/Ban, members of resident’s councils, and officials at the rank of company commander of the reserve army or higher are required to resign from their position by January 7 if they wish to become a campaign manager, campaign liaison officer, campaign staff, campaigner for preliminary candidates or candidates, campaign accounting officer, speech support staff, interviewer or moderator, voting observer or early voting observer.   

In this case, members of resident’s councils cannot be reinstated in their previous positions until election day, and for other persons within six months after the election day.

The NEC requested that political parties, candidates, and voters be careful not to violate the law due to misunderstandings of the law as the Public Official Election Act stipulates restricted and prohibited acts differently according to the relevant period.

Inquiries related to the elections can be made by calling 1390 without an area code or through the election regulations portal site (http://law.nec.go.kr).