Government Guarantees Voting Rights for Confirmed Cases and Self-Quarantined Individuals... Zero Tolerance for Illegal or Evasive Elections

Public Address to the Nation... "Full Effort on Disinfection at Voting Stations... Strict Crackdown on Fake News, etc."

On the 24th, one day before the official campaign for the April 7 Seoul mayoral by-election, officials at the Seoul Jongno-gu Election Commission are separating the candidates' election posters. Photo by Hyunmin Kim kimhyun81@

[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Cheol-young] The government has begun full preparations for election management 13 days ahead of the April 7 by-elections. The government plans to conduct disinfection at all voting and counting stations before and after the election, maximize the voting rights of confirmed COVID-19 patients and those in self-quarantine, and strictly enforce a zero-tolerance policy against illegal and illicit election campaigning.

On the 25th, Park Beom-gye, Minister of Justice; Jeon Hae-cheol, Minister of the Interior and Safety; and Kwon Deok-cheol, Minister of Health and Welfare, announced in a public statement their commitment to creating a safe voting environment, ensuring fair elections, and establishing public service discipline.

Following last year’s 21st National Assembly election, this by-election amid the COVID-19 crisis will elect four local government heads, including two metropolitan mayors of Seoul and Busan, and 17 local council members. The number of eligible voters is approximately 12 million.

The government plans to work closely with the National Election Commission and local governments to disinfect voting and counting stations before and after the election, fully guarantee the voting rights of confirmed COVID-19 patients and those in self-quarantine, and make every effort at the whole-of-government level to create a voting environment where citizens can vote with confidence.

The voting rights of confirmed COVID-19 patients and those in self-quarantine will also be maximally guaranteed. The government previously received 18 absentee voting applications from Seoul and 2 from Gyeonggi Province between the 16th and 20th. Confirmed patients and those in self-quarantine can vote at special early voting stations set up in five residential treatment centers in Seoul and one in Busan.

The government explained, "Confirmed patients and those in self-quarantine can vote via absentee ballots and at special early voting stations established in residential treatment centers," adding, "Those in self-quarantine can vote after the general voting closes on election day, using the same method as in the 21st general election."

Illegal and illicit election campaigning will be thoroughly cracked down on by the prosecution, police, and other government agencies. The election campaign period runs from the 25th to May 6. As of the 22nd, the Ministry of Justice has detected 43 violations of the Public Official Election Act, and the National Police Agency has uncovered 34 violations.

The government emphasized, "Starting today, 71 candidates will begin their vigorous election campaigns," and stated, "We will strictly enforce a zero-tolerance policy against all illegal acts such as smear campaigns, bribery, fake news, and manipulation of public opinion in cyberspace."

The government also announced plans to strengthen inspection activities to ensure the neutrality of public officials during the election and to establish public service discipline. It said, "We will enhance inspection activities to prevent public officials from interfering in the election or delaying work by riding the election atmosphere, which could cause administrative gaps," and added, "We will hold those responsible strictly accountable for any violations."

Meanwhile, considering that election day falls on a weekday, the government urged public and private sector employers to guarantee the voting rights of their employees. The government explained, "Employers are requested to cooperate to ensure that workers’ voting rights, as stipulated by law, are protected," and added, "If voting on election day is difficult, please make full use of the early voting opportunities on April 2 and 3."

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