The Citizen Manifesto (CM), a civic organisation to contribute to accomplish democratic society, held an event to publish citizens’ election manifestos at Lexington Hotel, Seoul on January 28 based on the sponsorship of National Election Commission of Korea (NEC). The Secretary-General of NEC, party leaders from seven main parties and 16 Si/Do representatives of CM took part in the event.

The CM members delivered documents containing 10 manifestos to party leaders to appeal citizens’ major policy demands to political parties.

The 10 manifestos were chosen by the CM’s project, “Citizens’ Election Manifestos Suggestions”. This project consisted of open forum for 1,000 policy experts and 500 citizens from all part of the county and policy requirements survey by examining 18,000 citizens. The project had been carried out from September 2009 for six months.

The main election manifestos include activating economy by inviting new investments and creating job vacancies for youths, constructing social welfare system for vulnerable group, improving the level of public education, enhancing education fee provision for low-income group, introducing subsidies for raising children, strengthening autonomous rights etc.