On November 19, the National Election Commission (NEC) convened a strategic meeting at the MG HRD Institute with the participation of senior officials and staff from 17 Gu/Si/Gun election commissions. The meeting focused on key management strategies for the 1st Nationwide Simultaneous Elections for Heads of Korean Federation of Community Credit Cooperatives (hereinafter referred to as the "Heads of KFCC Elections") scheduled to take place on March 5, 2025. This election marks the first instance of such a mandate managed by the NEC under the Entrusted Election Act. The NEC is committed to ensuring its fair and transparent administration.

▣ Building an Optimal Election Management System for Stable Operations

The Heads of KFCC Elections will involve various voting methods, including direct elections, general meetings, and delegate-based voting. Given that the election day falls on a weekday, challenges are anticipated in securing sufficient personnel and facilities for election management.

To address these challenges, the NEC plans to collaborate closely with the Ministry of the Interior and Safety, related institutions, and the KFCC to secure necessary resources and systematically manage the election process. Furthermore, to ensure smooth voting and ballot counting, the NEC will organize training and hands-on practice sessions for staff members of KFCC and other personnel involved in election-related tasks.

In addition, the NEC will provide regulatory information services through the "Smart Election Law Informer" SMS campaign. This initiative will deliver information tailored to key interests, such as the newly introduced preliminary candidate system and expanded election campaign methods, emphasizing critical updates under the Entrusted Election Act.

▣ Eliminating Illegal Activities to Uphold Fair Election Practices

The NEC is particularly focused on the prevalence of delegate-based voting in this election and the potential for misunderstandings about restrictions on donation-related activities among candidates and voters. Concerns have been raised about possible illegal practices, such as offering monetary or material inducements to voters.

In response, the NEC will rigorously monitor and crack down on serious violations, including "money politics." Preventative measures, such as prior briefings on the Entrusted Election Act for candidates, voters, and Saemaul Credit Cooperative staff, will be conducted. Public campaigns utilizing various media, including print, broadcast, and online platforms, will further promote compliance and discourage illicit activities.

▣ Establishment of Election Situation Room to Ensure Efficient Management

On November 4, the NEC inaugurated the Entrusted Election Situation Room, signifying the commencement of full-scale election preparations. The Situation Room, staffed by six teams comprising 20 personnel, is tasked with overseeing the election process. Its responsibilities include comprehensive management of election affairs, swift response to emerging issues, and the centralized management of election materials and equipment.

With approximately 100 days remaining until the Simultaneous Chairperson Election, the NEC pledged to dedicate all available resources to harmonize the autonomy of credit cooperatives with the principles of fair election management, ensuring the election’s success.