The National Election Commission Suspends Overseas Election Offices in 41 Locations Across 25 Countries Including the Embassy in the U.S.

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Cheol-eung] The National Election Commission announced on the 30th that, following the decision on the 26th of last month, it has decided to suspend overseas election affairs at 41 overseas diplomatic missions in 25 countries, including the Embassy of the Republic of Korea in the United States, until the 6th of next month.

This brings the total to 65 diplomatic missions in 40 countries, including the Consulate General in Wuhan, with 80,500 overseas voters in these areas, accounting for 46.8% of the total 171,959 overseas voters.

The Election Commission explained, "Despite the spread of COVID-19, regions where overseas elections can be conducted in a limited manner through adjustments to the voting period to ensure the voting rights of overseas nationals were excluded from the suspension." It added, "After careful discussions with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and overseas diplomatic missions regarding regions where the host countries, such as the United States and Canada, officially expressed concerns about conducting overseas elections due to the rapid worsening of the COVID-19 situation, or where the safety of overseas nationals is at risk due to strengthened sanctions by the host countries, and where normal overseas election conduct is deemed difficult, it was decided to additionally suspend overseas election affairs."

The Election Commission also requested, "In regions where overseas election affairs are not suspended, overseas voting will be conducted from the 1st to the 6th of next month, so thorough measures such as inspecting disinfection protocols at overseas polling stations will be taken. Overseas nationals visiting polling stations are also urged to strictly observe personal hygiene, including wearing masks."

In the event that sanctions by the host country are strengthened or the spread of COVID-19 makes overseas voting impossible during the overseas voting period, additional suspensions will be decided.

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