= Discussion on ‘The Role of Election Management Bodies in a Changing Environment’  =

The National Election Commission (NEC) of the Republic of Korea announced it will host the Seoul International Forum on Elections (SIFE) on October 24 at the Hotel Shilla Seoul, inviting about 100 participants including domestic and international election officials.

The Seoul International Forum on Elections, which began in 2015 and marks its fifth edition this year, is an international forum held annually by the NEC under a theme that is a top priority facing global election management bodies and international organizations in the field of democracy and elections.

Kwon Soon-il, the Chairperson of the NEC, will deliver opening remarks and Oh Joon, former Korean ambassador to the UN, will deliver a congratulatory speech, while election experts from a total of 20 countries including the United States, United Kingdom, Germany, India and the Philippines will be participating. 

The forum will be made up of the following three sessions: 

Session One: ‘Election Campaigning: Freedoms and Responsibilities in the New Media Age,’ including a presentation by Kyle Lemargie Advisor, Asia-Pacific, International Foundation for Electoral Systems (IFES). 

Session Two: ‘Measures to Improve Credibility in Election Polls,’ including a presentation by Trevor Tompson, Vice President, The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research. 

Session Three: ‘Case Studies on Measures to Increase Voter Participation,’ including a presentation by Abdullah Ahmadzai, Country Representative in Afghanistan, The Asia Foundation. 

The NEC said “through the Seoul International Forum on Elections, we plan to lead the international agenda for the development of global democracy and continue to engage with election management bodies and international organizations around the world.” 

In addition, visiting election officials also plan to participate in the 2019 Voters Festival to be held at the Korean Civic Education Institute for Democracy (KOCEI) in Suwon on October 25 to broaden their understanding of Korean political culture.

2019 Seoul International Forum on Elections Schedule