General Election Mail '31.58 Million Pieces'... Confirmed Cases' 'Absentee Voting'

On the 18th, a notice about delays and suspension of acceptance for international express (EMS) mail delivery was posted at Gwanghwamun Post Office in Seoul. Due to the impact of the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak, international flights have been canceled, resulting in the suspension of EMS mail acceptance to over 40 countries. Even for countries where acceptance is possible, delivery times are delayed as flights are reduced and mail volume increases. Photo by Kim Hyun-min kimhyun81@

[Asia Economy Reporter Hwang Junho] Starting from the 24th, the delivery of mail for the 21st National Assembly election will begin. Park Jong-seok, head of the Postal Service Headquarters at the Ministry of Science and ICT, stated on the 23rd, "Although the situation is difficult due to the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19), we will do our best to ensure smooth delivery of election mail."

31.58 million election mails for the general election

On the 28th, as the number of confirmed cases of the novel coronavirus infection increases, residents are purchasing masks at Munsan Post Office in Paju, Gyeonggi Province. Photo by Kang Jin-hyung, Paju aymsdream@

The Postal Service Headquarters will designate the 23-day period from the 24th to the 15th of next month as the "Special Election Mail Delivery Period" and will begin emergency operations. During this period, a total of 31.58 million election mails will be delivered intensively. The mail consists of approximately 22.45 million voting information notices and about 2.13 million early voting ballot return envelopes. Compared to the 20th general election, this is an increase of 3.01 million mails due to factors such as an aging population and voting eligibility starting at age 18.

The Postal Service Headquarters, local postal offices, and post offices nationwide will establish a "Special Election Mail Delivery Countermeasures Headquarters." The Postal Service Headquarters will also build a close cooperation system with the National Election Commission, Ministry of the Interior and Safety, Ministry of National Defense, National Police Agency, and local governments for the smooth delivery of election mail.

Absentee voting for COVID-19 confirmed patients and others

On the 2nd, postal workers who completed a safe driving pledge ceremony on Sejong-daero, Seoul, are parading in micro electric vehicles. Photo by Mun Ho-nam munonam@

The Postal Service Headquarters has also prepared measures to address the increase in absentee voters due to COVID-19. Absentee voting is a system where individuals who are unable to move, such as those staying in hospitals or nursing homes, report to the head of their jurisdictional city, district, or county (town, township, neighborhood) and receive ballots by mail to vote at their place of residence.

The Central Election Commission has allowed COVID-19 confirmed patients, hospital and residential treatment center quarantinees, and home quarantine individuals to apply for absentee voting. The application period is from the 24th to the 28th of this month. The Election Commission will send absentee ballots to the applicants' addresses by the 5th of next month, and applicants must vote and then place the ballots in the return envelope and send them back.

However, the return mail must arrive at the relevant election commission by 6 p.m. on the 15th to be accepted. The Postal Service Headquarters stated, "Absentee voters who vote at their residence, such as at home, should submit their return mail to the post office considering the delivery period of 1 to 2 days."

Head Park said, "We ask for the cooperation of related organizations and voters during mail delivery by postal workers to ensure that absentee voting by patients in hospitals, residential treatment centers, and those in self-quarantine proceeds smoothly."

Meanwhile, voting information notices delivered to mailboxes should be received promptly. The Postal Service Headquarters stated, "If the recipient does not live there or the mail is misdelivered, the reason should be written on the envelope surface and placed in the mail return box," adding, "Concealing, damaging, or unauthorized collection of election mail may result in punishment under the Public Official Election Act and related laws."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.