Statutes of the Republic of Korea

Article 1 (Purpose)

The purpose of this Act is to contribute to the development of democratic politics by ensuring that elections prescribed by the Constitution of the Republic of Korea and the Local Autonomy Act are held fairly in accordance with the free will of the people and democratic procedures and by preventing any malpractice related to such elections. <Amended on Aug. 4, 2005>

Article 2 (Scope of Application)

This Act shall apply to presidential elections, National Assembly elections, and elections of local council members, and the heads of local governments.

Article 3 (Definition of Eligible Voter)

For the purpose of this Act, the term "eligible voter" means a person who has the right to vote and is enrolled in an official list of eligible voters or an official list of overseas eligible voters.

[This Article Wholly Amended on Feb. 12, 2009]

Article 4 (Basis of Population)

The population constituting a basis of management of election affairs under this Act shall be in accordance with the latest vital statistics of the nation surveyed according to resident registration cards under the Resident Registration Act. In such cases, the number of foreigners who have the right to vote pursuant to Article 15 (2) 3 shall be included in the population for the election of the local council members and the head of any local government. <Amended on Aug. 13, 2015>

[This Article Wholly Amended on Feb. 12, 2009]

Article 5 (Cooperation for Election Affairs)

A government agency and other public institutions shall, upon a request by any election commission to cooperate for election affairs, preferentially comply therewith. <Amended on Feb. 16, 2000>

Article 6 (Guarantee for Exercise of Right to Vote)

(1)	The State shall take necessary measures to enable an eligible voter to exercise his or her right to vote.

(2)

In order to stimulate eligible voters to participate in voting, election commissions at all levels (excluding Eup/Myeon/Dong election commissions) may formulate and perform necessary measures, such as formulating and implementing measures necessary for providing convenience in transportation to eligible voters who reside in an area that lacks transport facilities or to eligible voters who have difficulty in going out, such as senior citizens, the weak, and persons with disabilities, or exempting eligible voters from or giving reduction in the charges for national or public pay facilities to eligible voters who have cast ballots, etc. In such cases, they shall consult with the political parties and candidates on fair execution methods, etc. <Added on Feb. 29, 2008; Dec. 29, 2020>

(3)	A public official, a student or a person employed by another shall be guaranteed the time necessary for perusing the official list of eligible voters or casting a vote, and the forgoing shall not be regarded as a suspension of service or business. <Amended on Feb. 29, 2008>

(4)	An eligible voter shall faithfully participate in an election and exercise his or her right to vote. <Amended on Feb. 29, 2008>

(5)

In order to remind electorate of the importance and meaning of elections and to enhance their awareness of sovereignty, May 10 of each year shall be declared as Electorate’s Day, and one week from Electorate’s Day as Electorate’s Week, while an election commission at each level (excluding an Eup/Myeon election commission) may hold a ceremony for Electorate’s Day and events incidental to the ceremony jointly with institutions or organizations that conduct a campaign for fair election. <Added on Jan. 17, 2012>

Article 6-2 (Guarantee of Voting Leave to Persons Employed by Another)

(1)	If a person employed by another person is on duty during the early voting period and the election day, the person may request his or her employer to permit him or her to have voting leave for hours necessary for voting.

(2)	Upon receipt of a request under paragraph (1), an employer shall guarantee the employee to have voting leave for hours necessary for voting.

(3)	An employer shall notify his or her employees, through a web-site, in-house newsletter, or in-house bulletin board during a period between seven days and three days before the election day, that they may request voting leave for hours necessary for voting.

[This Article Added on Feb. 13, 2014]

Article 7 (Responsibilities of Political Parties and Candidates for Fair Competition)

(1)

A political party and a candidate taking part in an election (including a person who intends to become a candidate; hereafter in this Article, the same shall apply) and a person who canvasses for votes on behalf of a candidate, in conducting an election campaign, shall comply with this Act and engage in fair competition, and shall not engage in any conduct detrimental to the good morals and social order in supporting, propagandizing, criticizing or opposing the platform and policy of a political party or the political views of a candidate. <Amended on Mar. 12, 2004; Feb. 29, 2008>

(2)	Election commissions at all levels (excluding Eup/Myeon/Dong election commissions) shall positively publicize necessary matters in order to promote policy elections and may subsidize organizations engaged in promoting policy elections in a neutral manner. <Added on Feb. 29, 2008; Jan. 25, 2010>

Article 8 (Responsibilities of Press for Fair Reports)

Where a person who manages and controls broadcasting, a newspaper, wire service, magazine or other publications, a person who edits, gathers data, writes or reports, or any Internet press agency provided in Article 8-5 (1) reports or comments on the platform or policy of a political party, political views or other matters of a candidate (including a person who intends to be a candidate; hereafter in this Article, the same shall apply) and broadcasts or reports the interview or discussion in which a representative of a political party, a candidate or his or her proxy participates, he or she or it shall be fair. <Amended on Nov. 14, 1997; Aug. 4, 2005>

Article 8-2 (Election Broadcast Deliberation Commission)

(1)

The Korea Communications Standards Commission (hereinafter referred to as the "Korea Communications Standards Commission") under Article 18 (1) of the Act on the Establishment and Operation of Korea Communications Commission shall establish and operate an Election Broadcast Deliberation Commission during a period specified in the following, so as to maintain the fairness of election broadcasting: <Amended on Jan. 25, 2010; Jan. 17, 2012>

1.	Elections held at the expiration of the terms of office:

Until 30 days after the election day from the day before the date on which an application for the registration of preliminary candidates commences under Article 60-2 (1);

2.	Special elections:

Until 30 days after the election day from 60 days before the election day (in cases where grounds for holding special elections are confirmed 60 days before the election day, 10 days after the date on which grounds for holding such elections are confirmed).

(2)

The Election Broadcast Deliberation Commission shall consist of not more than nine members including a person recommended by each of political parties which set up negotiating groups in the National Assembly and the National Election Commission and persons recommended by broadcasting companies (referring to a person operating or managing the broadcasting facilities under Article 70 (1); hereafter in this Article and Article 8-4 the same shall apply), the community of journalism scholars, the Korea Bar Association, journalists' associations, civil groups, etc. In such cases, when an increase in the number of political parties which set up negotiating groups in the National Assembly after the establishment of the Election Broadcast Deliberation Commission causes the number of members to exceed the fixed number of members, the current number of members shall be deemed fixed number of members. <Amended on Jan. 25, 2010>

(3)	No member of the Election Broadcast Deliberation Commission may join a political party.

(4)

The Election Broadcast Deliberation Commission shall determine necessary matters to maintain political neutrality, equality, and objectivity of election broadcast, and balance in respect of production technology, to redress injuries of rights, and other necessary matters to secure the impartiality of election broadcast, and shall publish them.

(5)

The Election Broadcast Deliberation Commission shall inspect whether the election broadcast is impartial, and shall determine the sanctions, etc. pursuant to the subparagraphs of Article 100 (1) of the Broadcasting Act, where deemed that the contents of an election broadcast were not impartial as a result of inspection, and notify the Korea Communications Commission under Article 3 (1) of the Act on the Establishment and Operation of the Korea Communications Commission of these measures, and the Korea Communications Commission shall without delay make orders for notified sanctions, etc. against the broadcasting company which made an election broadcast unfair. <Amended on Feb. 16, 2000; Aug. 4, 2005; Feb. 29, 2008; Jan. 25, 2010>

(6)

Where a candidate or a person wishing to be a candidate regards the contents of election broadcast as unfair, he or she may request the Election Broadcast Deliberation Commission to make corrections from the date on which the Election Broadcast Deliberation Commission is established under paragraph (1); and the latter shall without delay make a deliberation and resolution as to such request. <Amended on Jan. 25, 2010>

(7)	The composition and operation of the Election Broadcast Deliberation Commission, and other necessary matters shall be prescribed by the rules of the Korea Communications Standards Commission. <Amended on Jan. 25, 2010>

[This Article Added on Nov. 14, 1997]

Article 8-3 (Election News Deliberation Commission)

(1)

The Press Arbitration Commission referred to in Article 7 of the Act on Press Arbitration and Remedies, etc. for Damages Caused by Press Reports (hereinafter referred to as the "Press Arbitration Commission") shall establish and operate an Election News Deliberation Commission during a period classified under each subparagraph of Article 8-2 (1), so as to maintain impartiality in election news (including editorials, comments, advertisements and other content related to election; hereafter in this Article, the same shall apply). <Amended on Aug. 4, 2005; Jan. 25, 2010>

(2)

The Election News Deliberation Commission shall be comprised of not more than nine members, including persons recommended by the community of journalism scholars, the Korea Bar Association, journalists' associations, civil groups, etc. and a person recommended by each of political parties that form negotiating groups in the National Assembly and the National Election Commission. In such cases, the latter part of Article 8-2 (2) shall apply mutatis mutandis to the fixed number of members. <Amended on Jan. 25, 2010>

(3)

The Election News Deliberation Commission shall inspect whether the election news appearing in newspapers under subparagraph 1 of Article 2 of the Act on the Promotion of Newspapers, magazines, information publications, electronic publications and other publications under subparagraph 1 of Article 2 of the Act on Promotion of Periodicals, Including Magazines, and news agencies under subparagraph 1 of Article 2 of the Act on the Promotion of News Communications (hereafter in this Article and Article 8-4, referred to as "periodicals, etc.") is fair; and, where the content of election news is deemed unfair as a result of inspection, it shall determine any of the following disciplinary measures concerning the content of the relevant article and notify the Press Arbitration Commission of its determined disciplinary measures; and the Press Arbitration Commission shall without delay impose the disciplinary measures notified against a person who publishes the periodical, etc. that contains the unfair election news (hereafter in this Article and Article 8-4 referred to as "news media"): <Amended on Feb. 29, 2008; Jul. 31, 2009; Feb. 8, 2017>

1.	Publication of a correction or rebuttal;

2.	Publication of a warning issued;

3.	Publication of a caution;

4.	Warning, caution or recommendation.

(4)

When any person who publishes the periodicals, etc. publishes any general daily newspaper or any general weekly newspapers provided for in subparagraph 1 (a) or (c) of Article 2 of the Act on the Promotion of Newspapers during the operational period of the Election News Deliberation Commission under paragraph (1), he or she shall submit, without delay, to the Election News Deliberation Commission, one copy of the relevant periodical, and, if any request is made by the Election News Deliberation Commission, one copy of any other periodical that he or she publishes. <Added on Mar. 7, 2002; Aug. 4, 2005; Feb. 29, 2008; Jul. 31, 2009>

(5)	When any request is made by the person who has submitted the periodical, etc. under paragraph (4), the Election News Deliberation Commission shall make just compensation. <Added on Mar. 7, 2002; Feb. 29, 2008>

(6)	Article 8-2 (3), (4) and (6) shall be applicable mutatis mutandis to the Election News Deliberation Commission.

(7)	The Press Arbitration Commission shall prescribe matters necessary for the composition and operation of the Election News Deliberation Commission.

[This Article Wholly Amended on Feb. 16, 2000]

[Paragraph (3) of this Article, which was determined to be unconstitutional by the Constitutional Court on July 30, 2015 was amended by Act No. 14556, Feb. 8, 2017.]

Article 8-4 (Requests for Counterargument Report on Election News)

(1)

A political party (limited to a central party; hereafter in this Article the same shall apply) or a candidate (including a person wishing to become a candidate; hereafter in this Article the same shall apply) affected by public accusation against his or her personal character, biased propaganda of policies, etc. through broadcast or periodicals, etc. from the date on which the Election Broadcast Deliberation Commission or the Election News Deliberation Commission is established to the election day, may make a written request for a broadcast of the counterargument report to the broadcasting company which made the relevant broadcast, and for a printing of counterargument reports to the press company which printed the relevant news, respectively, within 10 days from the date on which he or she became aware of the relevant broadcast or printing of news: Provided, That this shall not apply where 30 days elapsed from the day of the relevant broadcast or printing of news. <Amended on Mar. 7, 2002; Feb. 29, 2008; Jan. 25, 2010>

(2)

A broadcasting company or a press company shall, where it has received requests under paragraph (1), without delay make consultation with the relevant political party or the relevant candidate or his or her proxy about the content, size, frequency, etc. of counterargument reports, and shall broadcast the counterargument report free of charge within 48 hours from the time of receipt of requests in cases of broadcasting, and print the counterargument report free of charge on the issue next to the same periodicals, etc., for which an editing is not completed, in cases of periodicals. In such cases, where the next issue of periodicals is to be published and distributed after the election day, the counterargument report shall be printed in general daily newspapers under subparagraph 1 (a) of Article 2 of the Act on the Promotion of Newspapers to be distributed in the very area wherein the relevant periodicals have been distributed, within 48 hours from the time when the request has been made, and the expenditures therefor shall be borne by the relevant press company. <Amended on Mar. 7, 2002; Aug. 4, 2005; Feb. 29, 2008; Jul. 31, 2009>

(3)

Where agreement is not reached pursuant to paragraph (2), the relevant political party, candidate, broadcasting company, or press company shall without delay refer the case in question to the Election Broadcast Deliberation Commission or the Election News Deliberation Commission, and the relevant Commission shall deliberate on it within 48 hours from the time of reference to make a resolution of rejection, dismissal or acceptance, and notify, without delay, the relevant political party, candidate, broadcasting company, or press company thereof. In this case, where such Commission makes a resolution of acceptance of the counterargument broadcast or report, it shall also determine the matters necessary for the counterargument report such as the content, size, frequency and others. <Amended on Mar. 7, 2002>

(4)

Article 15 (1), (4) through (7) of the Act on Press Arbitration and Remedies, etc. for Damage Caused by Press Report shall apply mutatis mutandis to any request for the counterargument report. In such cases, the "request for the correction report" shall be deemed the "request for the counterargument report", the "correction" shall be deemed the "counterargument", the "right to file the request for the correction report" shall be deemed the "right to file the request for counterargument report", the "correction report" shall be deemed the "counterargument report", and the "written correction report" shall be deemed the "written counterargument report", respectively. <Amended on Aug. 4, 2005>

[This Article Wholly Amended on Feb. 16, 2000]

Article 8-5 (Internet Election News Deliberation Commission)

(1)

The National Election Commission shall establish and operate an Internet Election News Deliberation Commission in order to maintain impartiality of election report stated on the web-sites (including the editorial, commentaries, photograph, broadcast, motion image and other details concerning an election; hereafter in this Article and Article 8-6, the same shall apply) of the Internet press agencies (referring to Internet newspaper business operators under subparagraph 4 of Article 2 of Act on the Promotion of Newspapers persons who run and manage websites, which are used to report, furnish or transmit Articles that are covered, edited and written through the Internet with the aim of propagating reports, commentaries, public opinions and information, etc. pertaining to politics, economy, society, culture and current events and any other persons who run and manage the web-sites that perform the functions of the press similar to those of the former; hereinafter the same shall apply). <Amended on Aug. 4, 2005; Jul. 31, 2009>

(2)

The Internet Election News Deliberation Commission shall be composed of not more than 11 persons commissioned by the National Election Commission, including a person recommended by each of the political parties that form negotiating groups in the National Assembly and the persons recommended by the Korea Communications Standards Commission, Press Arbitration Commission, community of scholars, legal circles, Internet press organizations, civil groups, etc., and the term of office of the members shall be three years. In such cases, the latter part of Article 8-2 (2) shall apply mutatis mutandis to the fixed number of members. <Amended on Jan. 25, 2010>

(3)	The Internet Election News Deliberation Commission shall have one chairperson, and he or she shall be elected from among its members.

(4)	The Internet Election News Deliberation Commission shall have one full-time member, and he or she shall be nominated by the National Election Commission from among the members of the Internet Election News Deliberation Commission.

(5)	No members of political parties shall become the members of the Internet Election News Deliberation Commission.

(6)

The Internet Election News Deliberation Commission shall determine matters necessary for guaranteeing the political neutrality, equality, and objectivity of Internet election reports, and redress of injuries of rights and impartiality of other election reports, and make a public announcement thereof.

(7)

When the Internet Election News Deliberation Commission deems that it is necessary for performing duties, it may hear the opinions of related public officials or specialists by inviting them, or request the related agencies, organizations, etc. to render their cooperation, such as presentation of data or opinions.

(8)	The Internet Election News Deliberation Commission shall have the secretariat consisting of the public officials belonging to the election commissions in order to deal with its affairs.

(9)	The composition and operation of the Internet Election News Deliberation Commission, treatment of its members and full-time members, organization and scope of duties of the secretariat, and other necessary matters shall be stipulated by the National Election Commission Regulations.

[This Article Added on Mar. 12, 2004]

Article 8-6 (Correction Report of Internet Press Agencies)

(1)

The Internet Election News Deliberation Commission shall inspect whether election reports that are run in the web-sites of Internet press agencies are fair or not and when contents of the election report are deemed unfair as a result of the inspection, the Internet Election News Deliberation Commission shall order the relevant Internet press agencies to take measures necessary to publish a correction report of such election report. <Added on Aug. 4, 2005>

(2)

When the political parties or candidates (including a person who intends to become a candidate; hereafter in this Article, the same shall apply) deem that any election report of the Internet press agencies is unfair, they may raise objections in writing to the Internet Election News Deliberation Commission within 10 days from the date on which they have known that there existed the said report.

(3)

When the Internet Election News Deliberation Commission has received an objection under paragraph (2), it shall without delay deliberate on whether the election report subject to an objection is impartial; and if it is deemed that the election report is unfair as a result of deliberations, it shall order the relevant Internet press agencies to take measures necessary to publish a correction report of the relevant election report. <Amended on Aug. 4, 2005>

(4)

Any political party or candidate subjected to damages due to the distorted election report of the Internet press agencies may demand in writing the relevant Internet press agencies within 10 days from the date on which they have known that there existed a public announcement of such report, to make a broadcast of the objection report or a printing of the counterargument report (hereafter in this Article, referred to as "counterargument report"). In such cases, when 30 days have elapsed from the date of public announcement of the said report, no demand for the counterargument report shall be allowed.

(5)

When any Internet press agency has received a demand under paragraph (4), it shall without delay hold a consultation with the relevant political parties, candidates or their agents on the form, content, size, frequency, etc., and thereafter make the counterargument report at its own charge within 12 hours from the time when receiving a demand for it. <Amended on Aug. 4, 2005>

(6)

Where a consultation on the counterargument report under paragraph (5) is not attained, the relevant political parties or candidates may immediately make a demand for counterargument report to the Internet Election News Deliberation Commission; and the said Commission shall deliberate thereon and make a decision on rejection, dismissal or acceptance, and thereafter notify the relevant political parties, candidates and Internet press agencies of the details of such decisions. In such cases, when such Commission makes a decision on acceptance of the counterargument report, it shall concurrently decide its form, content, size and frequency, etc. and other necessary matters and notify thereof; and the Internet press agency in receipt of such notice shall without delay perform them. <Amended on Aug. 4, 2005>

(7)

The provisions of Article 15 (1), (4) through (6), and (8) of the Act on Press Arbitration and Damage Relief, etc. shall apply mutatis mutandis to any demand for the counterargument report of the election report run by any Internet press agency unless such provisions are not contrary to their nature. In such cases, "demand for the correction report" shall be deemed "demand for the counterargument report", "correction" shall be deemed "counterargument", "right to demand the correction report" shall be deemed "right to demand the counterargument report", "correction report" shall be deemed the "counterargument report", and "text of the correction report" shall be deemed "text of the counterargument report", respectively. <Amended on Aug. 4, 2005; Jan. 17, 2012>

[This Article Added on Mar. 12, 2004]

Article 8-7 (Election Broadcasting Debate Commission)

(1)

An election commission of each level (excluding an Eup/Myeon/Dong election commission; hereafter in this Article, the same shall apply) shall respectively establish and operate an election broadcasting debate commission (hereafter in this Article referred to as "election broadcasting debate commission of each level") in order to impartially hold and progress an interview or debate under Article 82-2 and a policy debate under Article 82-3 (hereafter in this Article, referred to as "interview or debate, etc."): Provided, That a Gu/Si/Gun election broadcasting debate commission to be established in a Gu/Si/Gun election commission (hereinafter referred to as "Gu/Si/Gun election broadcasting debate commission") may be established and operated by the unit of an election district for constituency members of the National Assembly or by the unit of a broadcast zone of the composite cable TV business operator under the Broadcasting Act. <Amended on Aug. 4, 2005>

(2)

An election broadcasting debate commission of each level shall be comprised as follows, and the terms of office of members shall be three years, except in cases under the latter part of subparagraph 2. In such cases, the latter part of Article 8-2 (2) shall apply mutatis mutandis to the fixed number of members: <Amended on Jan. 25, 2010; Aug. 13, 2015; Jan. 21, 2022>

1.

The National Election Broadcasting Debate Commission established in the National Election Commission (hereinafter referred to as the "National Election Broadcasting Debate Commission"): An organization that includes a political party that has formed a negotiating group in the National Assembly, a public broadcasting company (referring to the Korea Broadcasting System and a broadcast business operator, the largest contributor of which is the Foundation for Broadcast Culture under the Foundation for Broadcast Culture Act; hereinafter the same shall apply), and a terrestrial broadcasting company (referring to a broadcasting business operator prescribed by the National Election Commission Regulations which is not a public broadcasting company but a terrestrial broadcasting business operator; hereinafter the same shall apply), consisting of up to 11 members including one person each recommended by an organization prescribed by the National Election Commission Regulations, and persons commissioned by the National Election Commission from among persons of learning and high moral character recommended by the Korea Communications Standards Commission, the academic and legal circles, and civic groups;

1-2.

A City/Do election broadcasting debate Commission established in an election commission of the Special Metropolitan City, a Metropolitan City, a Special Self-Governing City, a Do, a Special Self-Governing Province (hereinafter referred to as "City/Do") (hereinafter referred to as "City/Do election broadcasting commission"): Up to nine members, including one person each recommended by a political party that has formed a negotiating group in the National Assembly, a public broadcasting company, or a terrestrial broadcasting company and persons commissioned by a City/Do election commission from among persons of learning and high moral character recommended by the Korea Communications Standards Commission, the academic and legal circles, and civic groups;

2.	A Gu/Si/Gun election broadcasting debate commission:

A commission shall consist of not more than nine members, including three members including the chairperson of the relevant Gu/Si/Gun election commission and members recommended by political parties (where members recommended by political parties are not less than three persons, referring to the number including such members) and persons commissioned by the relevant Gu/Si/Gun election commission, from among persons belonging to the academic and legal circles, civic groups or journalists. In such cases, the terms of office of members who concurrently hold the positions of members of the Gu/Si/Gun election commission shall be the period during which they hold their official positions under Article 8 of the Election Commission Act.

(3)

An election broadcasting debate commission of each level shall have one chairperson, who shall be elected from among its members: Provided, That the chairperson of the relevant Gu/Si/Gun election commission shall concurrently hold the office of the chairperson of the Gu/Si/Gun election broadcasting debate commission. <Amended on Jan. 25, 2010>

(4)	The National Election Broadcasting Debate Commission shall have one full-time member, who shall be nominated from among its members by the National Election Commission.

(5)	No members of political parties shall become members of an election broadcasting debate commission.

(6)	The National Election Broadcasting Debate Commission shall determine matters necessary for holding and progress of an interview or debate, etc. and other matters necessary for guaranteeing the impartiality and shall make a public announcement thereof.

(7)

When it is necessary for performing the duties of interviews or debates, etc., an election broadcasting debate commission of each level may demand the public broadcast company or the related agencies or organizations, etc. to render cooperation, and the public broadcast company in receipt of the said demand for cooperation shall preferentially comply with it.

(8)	The National Election Broadcasting Debate Commission or a City/Do election broadcasting debate commission shall have a secretariat consisting of the public officials belonging to the relevant election commission in order to deal with its affairs. <Amended on Aug. 4, 2005; Jan. 25, 2010>

(9)

When an election broadcasting debate commission deems it necessary for performing its duties, it may hold a consultation with the heads of related administrative agencies or of the related institutions, organizations, etc., and have the public officials or executive officers and employees belonging thereto dispatched, or have the public officials belonging to the related administrative agencies concurrently assume the posts of public officials belonging to the secretariat under paragraph (8).

(10)	The composition and operation of an election broadcasting debate commission of each level, treatment of its members and full-time members, organization and scope of duties of the secretariat, and other necessary matters shall be stipulated by the National Election Commission Regulations.

[This Article Added on Mar. 12, 2004]

Article 8-8 (Deliberative Committee on Public Opinion Polls Relating to Election)

(1)

To ensure the objectivity and reliability of public opinion polls relating to election, the National Election Commission and each City/Do election commission shall establish and operate a deliberative committee on public opinion polls relating to election, respectively. <Amended on Dec. 24, 2015; Feb. 8, 2017>

(2)

The deliberative committee on public opinion polls relating to election established in the National Election Commission (hereinafter referred to as the “National Election Survey Deliberation Commission”) or the deliberative committee on public opinion polls relating to election established in a City/Do election commission (hereinafter referred to as “City/Do deliberative committee on public opinion polls relating to election”) shall be comprised of not more than nine members, including one member recommended by each political party that forms a negotiation body in the National Assembly and members commissioned by the National Election Commission or a City/Do election commission, from among neutral and impartial experts from academic circles, judicial circles, and institutions and organizations engaging in public opinion polls; and the term of office of each member shall be three years. In such cases, the latter part of Article 8-2 (2) shall apply mutatis mutandis to the fixed number of members. <Amended on Feb. 8, 2017>

(3)	A deliberative committee on public opinion polls relating to election shall have one chairperson, who shall be elected from among its members. <Amended on Feb. 8, 2017>

(4)	The National Election Survey Deliberation Commission shall have one full-time member, who shall be appointed by the National Election Commission from among members of the National Election Survey Deliberation Commission. <Amended on Feb. 8, 2017>

(5)	No member of a political party shall be qualified for a member of a deliberative committee on public opinion polls relating to election. <Amended on Feb. 8, 2017>

(6)

The National Election Survey Deliberation Commission shall prescribe and publish matters necessary to ensure the objectivity and reliability of public opinion polls on election conducted for the purpose of publishing or reporting (hereinafter referred to as “guidelines for conducting public opinion polls relating to election”). <Amended on Dec. 24, 2015; Feb. 8, 2017>

(7)	Duties of each deliberative committee on public opinion polls relating to election shall be as follows: <Amended on Dec. 24, 2015; Feb. 8, 2017>

1.	Examination of petitions filed for objection under Article 108 (4) and processing of registration under Article 108 (7);

2.	Examination of whether a public opinion poll relating to election violates this Act or guidelines for conducting public opinion polls, and measures therefor;

3.	Dealing with the registration, etc. of an institution conducting public opinion polls relating to election under Article 8-9.

(8)	Any of the following public opinion polls shall not be deemed public opinions polls relating to election under this Act: <Added on Feb. 8, 2017>

1.	Public opinion polls conducted by a political party to elect executive-level staff members including the leader thereof;

2.	Public opinion polls conducted to develop policies and election promises without disclosing the name of a candidate (including a person who intends to become a candidate) or the name of a political party (including a preparatory committee for the formation of the political party);

3.

Public opinion polls conducted by members of the National Assembly or members of local councils in relation to legislative activities: Provided, That this shall not apply to public opinion polls from the commencement date of filing an application for the registration of preliminary candidates to the election day of the relevant election under Article 60-2 (1);

4.	Public opinion polls conducted for purely academic and research purposes in the fields of politics, elections, etc.;

5.	Public opinion polls conducted by an organization, etc. intended for its members only for decision-making.

(9)	Public opinion polls subject to examination conducted by a deliberative committee on public opinion polls relating to election shall be as follows: <Amended on Feb. 8, 2017>

1.	The National Election Survey Deliberation Commission: Public opinion polls conducted nationwide or on constituents of at least two Cities/Dos;

2.	A City/Do deliberative committee on public opinion polls relating to election: Public opinion polls conducted on constituents of the relevant City/Do.

(10)

Where a deliberative committee on public opinion polls relating to election deems that a public opinion poll relating to election violates this Act or guidelines for conducting public opinion polls, it shall take necessary measures, such as an order to take corrective action, warning, and an order to publish a correction, against a person who has committed such violation; and where such violation is deemed to noticeably harm the impartiality of the election or the person who has committed such violation fails to comply with the order to take corrective action or the order to publish a correction, it shall take necessary measures, such as accusation, and shall notify the competent election commission of the election district thereof. <Amended on Dec. 24, 2015; Feb. 8, 2017>

(11)

Where a deliberative committee on public opinion polls relating to election examines public opinion polls that have violated guidelines for conducting public opinion polls relating to election, Article 272-2 shall apply mutatis mutandis thereto. In such cases, "election commissions at all levels" or "election commission" shall be deemed "deliberative committee on public opinion polls relating to election"; "commissioners and staff members of election commissions at all levels" or "commissioners and staff members of an election commission" shall be deemed "commissioners and staff members of a deliberative committee on public opinion polls relating to election"; and "offense relating to election" or "offense" shall be deemed "offense against this Act or guidelines for conducting public opinion polls in public opinion polls relating to election". <Added on Feb. 8, 2017>

(12)

If a deliberative committee on public opinion polls relating to election deems it necessary for performing its duties, it may invite related public officials or experts to hear their opinions or may request relevant institutions or organizations to furnish it with data or opinions or cooperate with it in any other way. <Amended on Feb. 8, 2017>

(13)	To conduct administrative affairs, a deliberative committee on public opinion polls relating to election may establish a secretariat comprised of public officials belonging to the election commission. <Amended on Feb. 8, 2017>

(14)

The organization and operation of a deliberative committee on public opinion polls relating to election, the treatment of members and full-time members, the organization and scope of duties of the secretariat, the methods for the public announcement of guidelines for conducting public opinion polls relating to election, and other necessary matters shall be prescribed by the National Election Commission Regulations. <Amended on Feb. 8, 2017>

[This Article Added on Feb. 13, 2014]

[Title Amended on Feb. 8, 2017]

Article 8-9 (Registration of Polling Institutions or Organizations)

(1)

Where a polling institution or organization intends to conduct public opinion polls relating to election for the purpose of publishing or reporting, it shall file an application for the registration of the polling institution or organization with the competent deliberative committee on public opinion polls relating to election in writing after it is equipped with an examination system and experts in analysis and meets other requirements prescribed by the National Election Commission Regulations.

(2)	The competent deliberative committee on public opinion polls relating to election upon receiving an application for registration under paragraph (1) shall accept the registration and issue a certificate of registration within seven days from the date it receives such application.

(3)

The competent deliberative committee on public opinion polls relating to election shall without delay disclose information prescribed by the National Election Commission Regulations, which is information on the polling institution or organization (hereinafter referred to as "institution conducting public opinion polls relating to election") to which it issues a certificate of registration pursuant to paragraph (2), on the website of the National Election Survey Deliberation Commission.

(4)

Where any matter mentioned in an application for registration under paragraph (1) is altered, an institution conducting public opinion polls relating to election shall file an application for the registration of alterations with the competent deliberative committee on public opinion polls relating to election within 14 days.

(5)

Where an institution conducting public opinion polls relating to election (including the representative and staff members thereof) falls under any of the following cases, the competent deliberative committee on public opinion polls relating to election shall revoke the registration of the relevant institution conducting public opinion polls relating to election. In such cases, the institution conducting public opinion polls relating to election the registration of which is revoked because it falls under subparagraph 3 shall not file an application for registration within one year from the date the registration thereof is revoked:

1.	Where it obtains registration by fraud or other improper means;

2.	Where it fails to meet requirements for registration under paragraph (1);

3.	Where it is sentenced to imprisonment with labor or a fine of at least one million won for an offense related to public opinion polls relating to election.

(6)	An application form for registration and a certificate of registration, procedures for disclosing information under paragraph (3), procedures for altering or revoking registration, and other necessary matters shall be prescribed by the National Election Commission Regulations.

[This Article Added on Feb. 8, 2017]

Article 9 (Responsibilities of Public Officials for Neutrality)

(1)	A public official or a person who is required to maintain political neutrality (including an agency and organization) shall not exercise any unreasonable influence over the election or perform any act likely to have an effect on the election result.

(2)

Where a public prosecutor (including a military prosecutor) or police officer (including an investigator of a prosecutors' office and military judicial police officer) deems that any violation of this Act is committed, he or she shall promptly and fairly crack down on and investigate the violation committed. <Amended on Feb. 21, 2006; Jan. 6, 2016; Dec. 22, 2020>

Article 10 (Drive of Social Organizations for Fair Election)

(1)

A social organization, etc. may be engaged in the drive for a fair election such as monitoring election malpractices: Provided, That none of the following organizations shall be engaged in the drive for a fair election under the name of the organization or that of its representative: <Amended on Feb. 16, 2000; Mar. 7, 2002; Mar. 12, 2004; Aug. 4, 2005>

1.	A national movement organization established under a special Act, which is contributed or subsidized by the State or local government (referring to the society for a Better Tomorrow, the Saemaul Movement Council, and the Korea Freedom Federation);

2.	An organization which is banned from political activities or participation in any election of public officials under statutes or regulations;

3.

An organization which is founded or operated by a candidate (including a person intending to become a candidate; hereafter in this Article, the same shall apply), a spouse of the candidate, a lineal ascendant, descendant and sibling of the candidate or his or her spouse, or a spouse of the candidate's lineal descendant or sibling (hereinafter referred to as "family member of the candidate");

4.	An organization established for the purpose of supporting a specific political party (including a preparatory committee for the formation of a political party; hereafter in this Article, the same shall apply) or a specific candidate;

5.	Deleted; <Aug. 4, 2005>

6.	Any trade union or organization which makes election campaigns or declares that it will make election campaigns.

(2)	Social organizations, etc. shall, when engaging in the drive for a fair election, firmly maintain an impartial position at all time, and shall pay special attention so as not to allow itself to conduct an election campaign in favor of a specific political party or candidate.

(3)

An election commission of each level (excluding an Eup/Myeon/Dong election commission) shall issue a warning, suspension or correction order, if the social organization, etc. is engaged in an unfair activity, and shall take necessary measures, such as pressing formal charges, if the activity leads to an election campaign, or the suspension or correction order is not complied with. <Amended on Aug. 4, 2005>

Article 10-2 (Fair Election Support Groups)

(1)	Election commissions at all levels (excluding Eup/Myeon/Dong election commissions) shall have a fair election support group to monitor vote rigging and support fair elections. <Amended on Feb. 29, 2008; Apr. 6, 2018>

(2)

A fair election support group shall consist of not more than 10 persons from among persons who are eligible to campaign as prescribed by the National Election Commission Regulations, but are not a member of a political party and take a neutral and impartial stance: Provided, That with 60 days (in cases of a special election, etc. for which the reason for holding the election becomes definite after 60 days prior to the election day, the time when the reason for holding the election has become definite) prior to the election day until 10 days after the election day, the National Election Commission and a City/Do election commission may have up to 10 additional persons, and a Gu/Si/Gun election commission may have up to 20 additional persons. <Amended on Feb. 29, 2008; Jan. 25, 2010; Apr. 6, 2018>

(3)	Deleted. <Feb. 29, 2008>

(4)	Deleted. <Feb. 29, 2008>

(5)	Deleted. <Feb. 29, 2008>

(6)	A fair election support group may, under the direction of the competent election commission, collect evidential data on acts of violations of this Act or may make the survey activities therefor. <Amended on Feb. 29, 2008; Apr. 6, 2018>

(7)	Allowances or actual expenses may be paid, within the budget, to those belonging to a fair election support group. <Amended on Apr. 6, 2018>

(8)	The composition and activity processes of a fair election support group, the payment of allowances and actual expenses, and other necessary matters shall be prescribed by the National Election Commission Regulations. <Amended on Apr. 6, 2018>

[This Article Added on Feb. 16, 2000]

[Title Amended on Apr. 6, 2018]

Article 10-3 (Cyber Fair Election Support Groups)

(1)

In order to monitor vote rigging utilizing the Internet and support fair elections, the National Election Commission shall establish and operate a cyber fair election support group of five to 10 persons as prescribed by the National Election Commission Regulations: Provided, That with 60 days (in cases of a special election, etc. for which the reason for holding the election becomes definite after 60 days prior to the election day, the time when the reason for holding the election has become definite) prior the election day until 10 days after the election day, it may have up to 10 additional persons. <Added on Feb. 29, 2008; Apr. 6, 2018>

(2)

A City/Do election commission shall establish and operate a cyber fair election support group of not more than 30 persons in order to monitor vote rigging utilizing the Internet and support fair elections with 120 days prior to the election day (in cases of a special election, etc. for which the reason for holding the election becomes definite after 120 days prior to the election day, five days after the reason for holding the election has become definite) up to the election day. <Amended on Feb. 29, 2008; Apr. 6, 2018>

(3)	A cyber fair election support group shall consist of neutral and impartial persons who are not members of any political party. <Amended on Feb. 29, 2008; Apr. 6, 2018>

(4)

Article 10-2 (6) through (8) shall apply mutatis mutandis to a cyber fair election support group. In such cases, "competent election commission" shall be construed as "competent election commission" and "fair election support group" as "cyber fair election support group". <Amended on Feb. 29, 2008; Apr. 6, 2018>

[This Article Added on Mar. 12, 2004]

[Title Amended on Apr. 6, 2018]

Article 11 (Status Guarantee of Candidates)

(1)

A candidate for a presidential election shall not be arrested or detained unless he or she is caught while committing a crime, except when he or she commits a crime falling under capital punishment or imprisonment with or without labor either for life or for seven or more years, and shall have the call for military service postponed, from the time the candidate completes registration until the ballot counting is finished. <Amended on May 10, 1995>

(2)

A candidate for National Assembly elections and elections of local council members and the heads of local governments shall not be arrested or detained unless he or she is caught while committing a crime, except when he or she commits a crime falling under capital punishment or imprisonment with or without labor either for life or for five or more years or commits a crime provided for in Chapter XVI Penalty Provisions, and shall have the call for military service postponed, from the time the candidate completes registration until the ballot counting is finished. <Added on May 10, 1995>

(3)

An election campaign manager, the chief of an election campaign liaison office, an election campaign worker, an accountant in charge, a voting observer, an early voting observer, and a counting observer (excluding an election campaign manager, an election campaign worker, and an accountant in charge appointed by a preliminary candidate) shall not be arrested or detained unless he or she is caught while committing a crime, except when he or she commits a crime punishable by capital punishment or imprisonment with or without labor either for life or for three or more years, or commits a crime under Articles 230 through 235 and 237 through 259, or shall have the call for military service postponed, from the time he or she acquires the relevant status until the ballot counting is finished. <Amended on Jul. 28, 2011; Jan. 17, 2014>

[Title Amended on Jul. 28, 2011]

Article 12 (Election Management)

(1)

Except as otherwise provided for in this Act, the National Election Commission shall control and manage all election affairs and may cancel or change an illegal or unfair disposition taken by a subordinate election commission (including officials in charge of voting management and officials in charge of early voting management; hereafter in this Article, the same shall apply), an overseas election commission under Article 218, and an overseas returning officer under Article 218-2. <Amended on Aug. 4, 2005; Feb. 12, 2009; Jan. 17, 2014>

(2)	A City/Do election commission may cancel or change an illegal or unfair disposition taken by a subordinate election commission with respect to an election of local council members and the head of a local government. <Amended on Apr. 1, 1995; Aug. 4, 2005>

(3)	A Gu/Si/Gun election commission may cancel or change an illegal or unfair disposition taken by a subordinate election commission with respect to the election concerned.

(4)	Gu/Si/Gun election commissions prescribed in this Act shall be deemed to include the election commission of Sejong City, as far as it is not contrary to its nature. <Added on Aug. 13, 2015>

[Title Amended on Aug. 13, 2015]

Article 13 (Constituency Election Management)

(1)	An election commission attending to the election affairs of each constituency (hereinafter referred to as "constituency election commission") shall be as follows: <Amended on Feb. 16, 2000; Aug. 4, 2005; Aug. 13, 2015>

1.

The constituency election affairs for a presidential election and an election of proportional representation members of the National Assembly in the national constituency (hereinafter referred to as "proportional representation members of the National Assembly") shall be attended to by the National Election Commission;

2.

The constituency election affairs for an election of the Special Metropolitan City Mayor, Metropolitan City Mayors, a Special Self-Governing City Mayor, and Do Governors (hereinafter referred to as "Mayors/Do Governors") and an election of proportional representation members of City/Do councils (hereinafter referred to as "proportional representation members of City/Do councils") shall be attended to by the relevant City/Do election commission;

3.

The constituency election affairs conducted for elections of constituency members of the National Assembly (hereinafter referred to as "constituency members of the National Assembly"), elections of constituency members of City/Do councils (hereinafter referred to as "constituency members of City/Do councils"), elections of constituency members of autonomous Gu/Si/Gun councils (hereinafter referred to as "constituency members of autonomous Gu/Si/Gun councils"), elections of proportional representation members of autonomous Gu/Si/Gun councils (hereinafter referred to as "proportional representation members of autonomous Gu/Si/Gun councils") and elections of the heads of autonomous Gus/Sis/Guns (hereinafter referred to as the "heads of autonomous Gus/Sis/Guns") shall be attended to by the Gu/Si/Gun election commission which has jurisdiction over the relevant constituency (where a Gu/Si/Gun election commission is designated to attend to the constituency election affairs as provided for in Article 29 (3) of this Act or Article 2 (6) of the Election Commission Act, referring to the Gu/Si/Gun election commission so designated).

(2)	For the purpose of paragraph (1), "constituency election affairs" means the election affairs to be conducted in the relevant constituency as a unit, such as registering candidacy and calling a winner.

(3)

Where deemed especially necessary for the election management, a constituency election commission or its immediate superior election commission may, as prescribed by the National Election Commission, adjust the scope of election affairs to be performed by the election commission in the competent constituency in respect to the relevant election, or may have its subordinate election commission or its members attend to the duties of the constituency election commission.

(4)	A member of the subordinate election commission attending to the constituency election affairs as provided for in paragraph (3) shall not be counted in the quorum of members of the constituency election commission, and may not take part in voting of the constituency election commission.

(5)

Where a Gu/Si/Gun election commission or an Eup/Myeon/Dong election commission becomes unable to perform its functions due to natural disasters or other unavoidable reasons, the immediate superior election commission may conduct the election affairs as proxy or may have another election commission conduct them as proxy, until the competent election commission recovers its functions. Where the immediate superior election commission has another election commission conduct the election affairs as proxy, the scope of the affairs to be conducted as proxy shall be also prescribed. <Amended on Aug. 4, 2005>

(6)

Where a superior election commission conducts the election affairs as proxy or has another election commission conduct them as proxy under paragraph (5), the acting election commission and the scope of relevant affairs shall be publicly announced without delay, and such information shall be reported to the immediate superior election commission.

[Title Amended on Aug. 13, 2015]

Article 14 (Commencement of Term of Office)

(1)

The President's term of office shall begin at zero hours of the day following the expiration date of his or her predecessor's term of office: Provided, That the term of office of the President elected at an election held after the term of his or her predecessor expires and at an election held due to vacancy shall begin from the time when the return is determined. <Amended on Feb. 4, 2003>

(2)

The term of office of a member of the National Assembly and a local council (hereafter in this paragraph referred to as "member") shall begin from the day following the day on which his or her predecessor's term of office expires by the general election: Provided, That the term of office of the member chosen at an election held after the term of office of the member begins or at an election for the membership increase of a local council shall begin from the time his or her election is decided, and shall be the same as the remaining term of office of his or her predecessor or a member in the same category.

(3)

The term of office of the head of a local government shall begin from the day following the day on which his or her predecessor's term of office expires: Provided, That the term of office of the head of a local government chosen at an election held after his or her predecessor's term of office expires or at a new election held as provided in Article 30 (1) 1 through 3 shall begin from the time his or her election is decided, and shall be the same as the remaining term of his or her predecessor or the head of a local government in the same category.

Article 15 (Right to Vote)

(1)

A national of 18 years of age or older shall have the right to vote in elections of the President and members of the National Assembly: Provided, That the right to vote in elections of constituency members of the National Assembly shall only be granted to a national of 18 years of age or older who falls under any of the following as of the base date for preparation of the official list of eligible voters pursuant to Article 37 (1): <Amended on Nov. 7, 2011; Jan. 17, 2014; Aug. 13, 2015; Jan. 14, 2020>

1.	A person who falls under Article 6 (1) 1 or 2 of the Resident Registration Act and whose resident registration has been made in the relevant constituency for the National Assembly;

2.	A person who falls under Article 6 (1) 3 of the Resident Registration Act and has been enrolled in the resident registration card for at least three months consecutively and whose resident registration has been made in the relevant constituency for the National Assembly.

(2)

Any person of 18 years of age or older who falls under any of the following as of the base date for preparation of the official list of eligible voters under Article 37 (1) shall have the right to vote in elections of local council members and the head of the local government in the relevant district: <Amended on Feb. 12, 2009; Nov. 7, 2011; Jan. 17, 2014; Aug. 13, 2015; Jan. 14, 2020>

1.	Any person who falls under Article 6 (1) 1 or 2 of the Resident Registration Act and who is registered as a resident in a district under the jurisdiction of the relevant local government;

2.	Any person who falls under Article 6 (1) 3 of the Resident Registration Act and has been enrolled for at least three consecutive months in the resident registration card and who is registered as a resident in a district under the jurisdiction of the relevant local government;

3.	Any person who is enrolled in the register of foreigners of the relevant local government pursuant to Article 34 of the Immigration Act as a foreigner for whom three years have passed after the acquisition date of qualification for permanent residence under Article 10 of that Act.

[Paragraph (2) 1 of this Article, which was determined to be inconsistent with the Constitution by the Constitutional Court on June 28, 2007, is amended by Act No. 9466, promulgated on February 12, 2009]

[Title Amended on Nov. 7, 2011]

Article 16 (Eligibility for Election)

(1)

A national who is 40 years of age or older and who has resided in the Republic of Korea for at least five years as of the election day shall be eligible for election to the Presidency. In such cases, if he or she has been sent to a foreign country for the performance of public duties or stayed in a foreign country while having a domicile in the Korean territory for a certain period, he or she shall be deemed to have stayed in the Korean territory for that period. <Amended on Jan. 13, 1997>

(2)	A national 18 years of age or older shall be eligible for election as a member of the National Assembly. <Amended on Jan. 18, 2022>

(3)

A national 18 years of age or older and registered as a resident in a district under the jurisdiction of the relevant local government for at least 60 consecutive days (from the record date of the official list of eligible voters up to the election day consecutively, in cases of any person who had been sent to a foreign country for public service and has returned to the Republic of Korea after 60 days before the election day) as of the election day, shall be eligible for election as a relevant local council member and the head of the local government. In such cases, a period of 60 days shall not be interrupted by establishment, abolition, division, or merger of the local government, or change in the boundary of a district (including a change of district under any subparagraph of Article 28). <Amended on Apr. 30, 1998; Feb. 12, 2009; Aug. 13, 2015; Jan. 18, 2022>

(4)

In cases falling under the former part of paragraph (3), when the resident registration of the head of a local government is made in the district under the jurisdiction of another local government because the office of the relevant local government is located in the district under the jurisdiction of another local government, it shall be deemed that his or her resident registration is made in the district under the jurisdiction of the relevant local government. <Amended on Feb. 12, 2009>

[Title Amended on Aug. 13, 2015]

[Paragraph (3) of this Article, which was decided to be inconsistent with the Constitution by the Constitutional Court on Jun. 28, 2007, is amended by Act No. 9466, Feb. 12, 2009]

Article 17 (Criteria for Calculating Age)

The age of an eligible voter and a person eligible for election shall be calculated as of the election day.

Article 18 (Disfranchised Persons)

(1)	Any of the following persons, as of the election day, shall be disfranchised: <Amended on Mar. 12, 2004; Aug. 4, 2005; Aug. 13, 2015>

1.	A person who is declared incompetent;

2.

A person who is sentenced to imprisonment with or without labor for at least one year, but whose sentence execution has not been terminated or whose sentence execution has not been decided to be exempted: Provided, That a person who is under the suspension of the execution of said sentence shall be excluded therefrom;

3.

A person who commits an election crime, who commits the crimes provided for in Articles 45 and 49 of the Political Fund Act or who commits the crimes in connection with the duties while in office as the President, member of the National Assembly, member of local council, and head of a local government, which are referred to in Articles 129 through 132 of the Criminal Act (including the case subject to an aggravated punishment pursuant to Article 2 of the Act on the Aggravated Punishment, etc. of Specific Crimes) and Article 3 of the Act on the Aggravated Punishment, etc. of Specific Crimes, and for whom five years have not passed since a fine of at least one million won is sentenced and the sentence becomes final or 10 years have not passed since the suspended sentence becomes final, or for whom 10 years have not passed since imprisonment was sentenced and the decision not to execute the sentence became final or since the execution of the sentence was terminated or exempted (including a person whose punishment becomes invalidated);

4.	A person whose right to vote is suspended or forfeited according to a decision by court or pursuant to other statutes.

(2)	"Person who commits an election crime" in paragraph (1) 3 means a person who commits a crime provided in Chapter XVI Penalty Provisions or a crime in violation of the National Referendum Act. <Amended on Aug. 4, 2005>

(3)

A person who concurrently commits the crimes referred to in paragraph (1) 3 and other offenses shall be tried and sentenced separately for each offense, notwithstanding Article 38 of the Criminal Act, and, when an election campaign manager, accountant in charge of an election campaign office (including a person who has not been appointed nor reported as an accountant in charge of an election campaign office and who in collusion with a candidate spent for election expenses an amount equivalent to 1/3 or more of the election expense limit) or a lineal ascendant or descendant and spouse of the candidate (including a person intending to become a candidate) concurrently commits offenses under Articles 263 and 265 and other offenses under paragraph (1) 3 of this Article and is punished by imprisonment with labor or a fine of at least three million won (including punishment due to acts committed by an election campaign manager or accountant in charge of an election campaign office before he or she is appointed or reported), such person shall be tried and sentenced separately for each offense. <Amended on Jan. 25, 2010>

[Title Amended on Aug. 13, 2015]

[Paragraph (1) 2 of this Article, which was decided to be unconstitutional and inconsistent with the Constitution by the Constitutional Court on Jan. 28, 2014, is amended by Act No. 13497, Aug. 13, 2015.]

Article 19 (Persons Ineligible for Election)

Any of the following persons as of the election day shall be ineligible for election: <Amended on Dec. 30, 2013; Feb. 13, 2014>

1.	A person who falls under Article 18 (1) 1, 3, or 4;

2.	A person who is sentenced to imprisonment without labor or a heavier punishment and whose sentence is not invalidated;

3.	A person whose eligibility for election is suspended or forfeited by a court judgment or by any other statute;

4.	Any of the following persons who committed a crime under Article 166 of the National Assembly Act (including persons upon whom a sentence imposed has become invalidated):

(a)	A person in whose case five years have not passed yet since a sentence of a fine of at least five million won or any heavier punishment, imposed upon the person, became final and conclusive;

(b)	A person in whose case 10 years have not passed yet since a sentence of suspension of execution of a punishment, imposed upon the person, became final and conclusive;

(c)	A person in whose case 10 years have not passed yet since the person was finally and conclusively exempted from the execution of a sentence of imprisonment with labor, imposed upon the person, or since the execution of such sentence was completed or remitted;

5.	A person in whose case 10 years have not passed yet since the sentence of a fine, imposed upon the person for the commission of a crime under Article 230 (6), became final and conclusive (including a person upon whom such sentence imposed became invalidated).

Article 20 (Election Districts)

(1)	The President and proportional representation members of the National Assembly shall be elected in the whole country as a unit. <Amended on Feb. 16, 2000; Aug. 4, 2005>

(2)	The proportional representation members of City/Do councils shall be elected in the relevant City/Do as a unit, and the proportional representation members of autonomous Gu/Si/Gun councils shall be elected in the relevant autonomous Gu/Si/Gun as a unit, respectively. <Added on Aug. 4, 2005>

(3)

The constituency members of the National Assembly and the constituency members of local councils (referring to the constituency members of City/Do councils and the constituency members of autonomous Gu/Si/Gun councils; hereinafter the same shall apply) shall be elected in the constituency for the members concerned as a unit. <Amended on Feb. 16, 2000; Aug. 4, 2005>

(4)	The head of a local government shall be elected in the area under jurisdiction of the relevant local government as a unit.

Article 21 (Fixed Number of Members of the National Assembly)

(1)	The fixed number of members of the National Assembly shall be comprised of 300 persons by adding 253 constituency members and 47 proportional representation members. <Amended on Jan. 14, 2020>

(2)	The fixed number of members of the National Assembly to be elected in a single constituency (hereinafter referred to as "constituency for electing a member to the National Assembly") shall be one person. <Amended on Mar. 3, 2016>

[Title Amended on Mar. 3, 2016]

Article 22 (Fixed Number of Members of City/Do Council)

(1)

The total number of City/Do council members in a local constituency for each City/Do shall be two times the number of each autonomous Gu/Si/Gun under its jurisdiction (referring to a local constituency for electing a member to the National Assembly where one autonomous Gu/Si/Gun is divided into two or more local constituencies for electing members to the National Assembly, and referring to an administrative district where a local constituency for electing a member to the National Assembly does not coincide with an administrative district due to territorial changes in administrative districts), and such number may be adjusted within the limit of 14/100, in consideration of population, administrative districts, topography, transportation and other conditions: Provided, That the fixed number of City/Do council members in a local constituency in autonomous Gu/Si/Gun shall be at least one person. <Amended on Feb. 13, 2014; Mar. 3, 2016>

(2)

Where a Si and a Gun are unified into a Si of the urban and rural complex form under Article 10 (2) of the Local Autonomy Act, the fixed number of the Do council members in charge of the relevant Si and the fixed number of Do council members in the relevant Si shall be determined, in consideration of the number of council members before such unification, only if an election of the City/Do council members at the expiration of their term of office takes place for the first time after such unification, notwithstanding paragraph (1). <Amended on Apr. 30, 1998; Aug. 4, 2005; Jan. 25, 2010; Jan. 12, 2021>

(3)

In a Metropolitan City and a Do in which the fixed number of council members calculated in accordance with the criteria provided for in paragraphs (1) and (2) is fewer than 19, the fixed number of such Metropolitan City/Do council members shall be 19. <Amended on Apr. 30, 1998; Mar. 7, 2002; Jan. 25, 2010>

(4)

The fixed number of proportional representation members of City/Do councils shall be 10/100 of the fixed number of constituency members of City/Do councils calculated as provided for in paragraphs (1) through (3). In such cases, the fraction shall be regarded as one: Provided, That the calculated fixed number of proportional representation members of City/Do councils, if fewer than three, shall be three. <Added on Apr. 1, 1995>

[Title Amended on Feb. 13, 2014]

[This Article, which was decided to be inconsistent with the Constitution by the Constitutional Court on Mar. 29, 2007, is amended by Act No. 9974, Jan. 25, 2010.]

Article 23 (Fixed Number of Members of Autonomous Gu/Si/Gun Council)

(1)

The total fixed number of members of an autonomous Gu/Si/Gun council for each City/Do is indicated in Appendix 3 and the fixed number of members of an autonomous Gu/Si/Gun council shall be determined by the election boundary delimitation commission for the autonomous Gu/Si/Gun council of the relevant City/Do under Article 24-3 within the scope of the total fixed number of the relevant City/Do, taking into account the population and the district representation of the autonomous Gu/Si/Gun, in accordance with the standards set by the National Election Commission Regulations. <Amended on Jun. 19, 2015>

(2)	The minimum fixed number of members of an autonomous Gu/Si/Gun council shall be seven.

(3)	The fixed number of proportional representation members of an autonomous Gu/Si/Gun council shall be 10/100 of the fixed number of members of the relevant autonomous Gu/Si/Gun council. In such cases, the fraction shall be deemed one.

[This Article Wholly Amended on Aug. 4, 2005]

Article 24 (National Assembly Election Boundary Delimitation Commission)

(1)

To ensure the fair delimitation of constituencies for electing members of the National Assembly, a National Assembly Election Boundary Delimitation Commission shall be established and operated, for the period from 18 months before a National Assembly election is held at the expiration of the terms of office to the date the names and districts of constituencies for electing members of the National Assembly for the relevant National Assembly election are determined and they become effective. <Amended on Mar. 3, 2016>

(2)	The National Assembly Election Boundary Delimitation Commission shall be established under the National Election Commission, but it shall have an independent authority to its administrative affairs.

(3)	The National Assembly Election Boundary Delimitation Commission shall be comprised of nine members who are commissioned by the chairperson of the National Election Commission, and its Chairperson shall be elected from among the members.

(4)

The competent Standing Committee of the National Assembly or the Special Committee for deliberating on the matters concerning boundary delimitation (hereafter in this Article and Article 24-2 referred to as the “Committee”) shall appoint one person designated by the Chairperson of the National Election Commission and eight persons determined by resolution, from among the persons recommended by the academic circles, legal circles, press circles, civil groups and political parties, etc., and then notify the Chairperson of the National Election Commission of such appointment, by 10 days before the National Assembly Election Boundary Delimitation Commission is established.

(5)

Where any vacancy occurs in the membership of the National Assembly Election Boundary Delimitation Commission, the Chairperson of the National Election Commission shall request the Committee to appoint a new member and make a report thereon. In such cases, paragraph (4) shall apply mutatis mutandis to the appointment, etc. of members.

(6)	The terms of office of the National Assembly Election Boundary Delimitation Commission shall be consistent with the period of existence of the National Assembly Election Boundary Delimitation Commission.

(7)

Any member of the National Assembly or any political party member (including a person who was a political party member during the last one year from the date the National Assembly Election Boundary Delimitation Commission under paragraph (1) was established) shall be prohibited from becoming a member of the National Assembly Election Boundary Delimitation Commission.

(8)	Any member of the National Assembly Election Boundary Delimitation Commission shall serve without pay, but he or she may receive daily allowances, travel expenses, and other actual expenses.

(9)	When requested by the National Assembly Election Boundary Delimitation Commission to provide materials necessary for boundary delimitation, a government agency or local government shall comply with it without delay.

(10)	In delimiting boundaries of each constituency for electing a member to the National Assembly, the National Assembly Election Boundary Delimitation Commission shall grant an opportunity to state opinions to the political parties that have seats in the National Assembly. <Amended on Mar. 3, 2016>

(11)

The National Assembly Election Boundary Delimitation Commission shall submit, to the Speaker of the National Assembly, a draft boundary delimitation which is prepared pursuant to the standards prescribed in Article 25 (1) and is approved by a vote of 2/3 of the members, grounds for approval and a report stating other necessary matters, by 13 months before the relevant National Assembly election held at the expiration of the terms of office.

(12)

An organization to support administrative affairs (hereinafter referred to as “support organization”) may be established under the National Assembly Election Boundary Delimitation Commission from 30 days before the Commission is established. In such cases, the support organization shall be comprised of public officials affiliated with the National Election Commission; and if it is deemed necessary after the establishment of the National Assembly Election Boundary Delimitation Commission, the chairperson of the National Assembly Election Boundary Delimitation Commission may request relevant State agencies for the secondment of their officials.

(13)

A person who is or was a member of the National Assembly Election Boundary Delimitation Commission shall not divulge any secret which he or she has learned in the course of performing his or her duties. The same shall also apply to the employees of the support organization of the National Assembly Election Boundary Delimitation Commission.

(14)	Other necessary matters concerning the operation, etc. of the National Assembly Election Boundary Delimitation Commission and its support organization shall be prescribed by the National Election Commission Regulations.

[This Article Wholly Amended on Jun. 19, 2015]

Article 24-2 (Confirmation of Constituencies for Electing Members to the National Assembly)

(1)	The National Assembly shall confirm constituencies for electing members to the National Assembly no later than one year before the election day. <Amended on Mar. 3, 2016>

(2)	The Speaker of the National Assembly shall refer the draft boundary delimitation submitted pursuant to Article 24 (11) to the Committee.

(3)

Where the draft boundary delimitation is referred pursuant to paragraph (2), the Committee shall, without delay, review it and then propose a legislative bill to amend provisions concerning the names and districts of constituencies for electing members to the National Assembly (hereinafter referred to as “election district bill”). In such cases, the Committee shall reflect the draft boundary delimitation as it is, but where the Committee determines that such draft boundary delimitation clearly violates the standards prescribed in Article 25 (1), it may, stating the reasons therefor, request the National Assembly Election Boundary Delimitation Commission to re-submit a draft boundary delimitation, approved by a vote of 2/3 of the members only once. <Amended on Mar. 3, 2016>

(4)

The National Assembly Election Boundary Delimitation Commission upon receipt of the request under paragraph (3) shall submit a new draft boundary delimitation to the Speaker of the National Assembly, within 10 days from the date it receives such request. In such cases, paragraph (2) shall apply mutatis mutandis to the reference to the Committee of the draft boundary delimitation.

(5)

In the election district bill, the names and districts of constituencies for electing members to the National Assembly shall be excluded from the review for the structure and wording conducted by the Legislation and Judiciary Committee under Article 86 of the National Assembly Act. <Amended on Mar. 3, 2016>

(6)

The Speaker of the National Assembly shall refer the election district bill or any legislative bill including an election district bill to a plenary session that is first held after such bill is proposed. In such cases, the plenary session shall take a vote on the election district bill or the legislative bill including an election district bill without modification, notwithstanding Articles 95 (1) and 96 of the National Assembly Act.

[This Article Added on Jun. 19, 2015]

[Title Amended on Mar. 3, 2016]

Article 24-3 (Election Boundary Delimitation Commissions for Members of Autonomous Gu/Si/Gun Councils)

(1)

To ensure the fair delimitation of constituencies for members of autonomous Gu/Si/Gun councils (hereinafter referred to as “constituencies for members of autonomous Gu/Si/Gun councils”), an election boundary delimitation commission for members of an autonomous Gu/Si/Gun council shall be established in each City/Do.

(2)

An election boundary delimitation commission for members of an autonomous Gu/Si/Gun council shall be comprised of not more than 11 members, and they shall be commissioned by a Mayor/Do Governor, from among the persons recommended by the academic circles, legal circles, press circles, civil groups and City/Do council.

(3)	Any local council member or political party member shall be prohibited from becoming a member of an election boundary delimitation commission for members of an autonomous Gu/Si/Gun council.

(4)

In preparing a draft boundary delimitation, an election boundary delimitation commission for members of an autonomous Gu/Si/Gun council shall grant an opportunity to state opinions to the political parties that have the seats in the National Assembly and the council of the relevant autonomous Gu/Si/Gun and the head thereof.

(5)

An election boundary delimitation commission for members of an autonomous Gu/Si/Gun council shall prepare a draft boundary delimitation in accordance with the standards prescribed in Article 26 (2) and submit it to the competent Mayor/Do Governor by six months before the election is held at the expiration of the terms of office of members of the autonomous Gu/Si/Gun council, accompanying with a report stating the reasons for preparing such draft boundary delimitation and other necessary matters.

(6)	Where a City/Do council amends its municipal ordinance concerning constituencies for members of the autonomous Gu/Si/Gun council, it shall respect the draft boundary delimitation prepared by an election boundary delimitation commission for members of the autonomous Gu/Si/Gun council.

(7)	Articles 24 (8) and (9) shall apply mutatis mutandis to an election boundary delimitation commission for members of the autonomous Gu/Si/Gun council.

(8)	The organization and operation of an election boundary delimitation commission for the autonomous Gu/Si/Gun council members and other necessary matters shall be prescribed by the National Election Commission Regulations. <Amended on Dec. 24, 2015>

[This Article Added on Jun. 19, 2015]

Article 25 (Delimitation of Boundaries of Constituency for Electing Members to the National Assembly)

(1)

The boundaries of a constituency for electing a member to the National Assembly shall be delimited in the area within the jurisdiction of a City/Do in accordance with the following standards, in consideration of the population, administrative districts, geographical features, traffic, living and cultural area, etc.: <Amended on Mar. 3, 2016>

1.

A population obtained as a result of a survey conducted in accordance with resident registration record cards under Article 7 (1) of the Resident Registration Act as of the end of the month to which 15 months before the election day belongs shall be the population which becomes standards for delimitation of the boundaries of a constituency for electing members to the National Assembly;

2.

It shall not be allowed to make any part divided from one autonomous Gu, Si, or Gun belong to another constituency for electing a member to the National Assembly: Provided, That where a constituency for electing a member to the National Assembly that satisfies the range of a population cannot be composed of, according to a method of integrating the whole district within at least one neighboring autonomous Gus, Sis or Guns, each of which does not satisfy the range of a population (referring to the ratio of the range of the population of two to one; hereafter in this Article, the same shall apply), the constituency for electing a member to the National Assembly may be composed of by dividing part of the neighboring autonomous Gu, Si or Gun.

(2)

When the boundaries a constituency for electing a member to the National Assembly is delimited, endeavors shall be made so that regional representation of agricultural, mountainous and fishing villages may be reflected within the range which is not beyond the range of a population under paragraph (1) 2. <Added on Mar. 3, 2016>

(3)	The names and districts of constituencies for electing members to the National Assembly shall be as specified in Appendix 1.

[Title Amended on Mar. 3, 2016]

[Attached Table 1, which was determined to be inconsistent with the Constitution by the Constitutional Court on Oct. 25, 2001, is amended by Act No. 7189, March 12, 2004.]

[Attached Table 1 under paragraph (3) of this Article, which was determined to be inconsistent with the Constitution by the Constitutional Court on Oct. 30, 2014, is amended by Act No. 14073, Mar. 3, 2016]

Article 26 (Delimitation of Boundaries of Constituencies for Local Council Members)

(1)

The boundaries of a constituency for members of a City/Do council (hereinafter referred to as "constituency for members of a City/Do council") shall be delimited by zoning an autonomous Gu/Si/Gun or dividing an autonomous Gu/Si/Gun (if an autonomous Gu/Si/Gun consists of two or more constituencies for members of the National Assembly, it refers to the constituencies for members of the National Assembly; and if a constituency for members of the National Assembly does not coincide with an administrative district due to a territorial change in an administrative district, it refers to the administrative district), in consideration of the population, administrative districts, geographical features, traffic, and other conditions, but the fixed number of constituency members of a City/Do council to be elected in the single constituency for members of a City/Do council shall be one and the names and districts of constituencies for members of a City/Do council shall be shown in Appendix 2. <Amended on Apr. 1, 1995; Jan. 25, 2010>

(2)

The boundaries of a constituency for members of an autonomous Gu/Si/Gun council shall be delimited taking into account the population, the administrative districts, the geographical features, traffic and other conditions, and the fixed number of constituency members of an autonomous Gu/Si/Gun council to be elected in the single constituency for members of an autonomous Gu/Si/Gun council shall be at least two but not more than four; and the name and the district of the constituency for members of an autonomous Gu/Si/Gun and the fixed number of such members shall be determined by ordinance of the relevant City/Do. <Amended on Aug. 4, 2005>

(3)

Where the boundaries of a constituency for members of a City/Do council or members of an autonomous Gu/Si/Gun council is delimited pursuant to the provisions of paragraph (1) or (2), one Eup/Myeon (referring to an administrative Myeon where an administrative Myeon exists under Article 7 (3) of the Local Autonomy Act; hereinafter the same shall apply) or one Dong (referring to an administrative Dong where an administrative Dong exists under Article 7 (4) of the Local Autonomy Act; hereinafter the same shall apply) shall not be divided in order to make part of it belong to another constituency for members of a City/Do council or other constituency for members of an autonomous Gu/Si/Gun council. <Amended on Apr. 1, 1995; Aug. 4, 2005; Jan. 25, 2010; Jan. 12, 2021>

(4)

The boundaries of a constituency for members of an autonomous Gu/Si/Gun council shall be delimited in the single constituency for members of a City/Do council and when at least four constituency members of an autonomous Gu/Si/Gun council are elected in the single constituency for members of a City/Do council, such single constituency may be divided into at least two constituencies. <Added on Aug. 4, 2005>

[Inconsistency with the Constitution, 2018Heon-Ma415, February 28, 2019: Article 26 (1) of the Public Official Election Act (as amended by Act No. 15424 on Mar. 9, 2018) and the part regarding the local constituencies of Incheon Metropolitan City Council members and Gyeongsangbuk-do Council members out of the table showing local constituencies of City/Do Council Members in Appendix 2 of that Act were found to be not in conformity with the Constitution by the Constitutional Court. The aforesaid provisions, however, shall remain in effect until December 31, 2021 or until the legislature amends it, whichever comes earlier.]

Article 27 (Postponement of Election in Cases of Change in Constituencies for Members to the National Assembly during Terms of Office)

Where any constituency for electing a member to the National Assembly changes according to the revision of Appendix 1, due to an increase or decrease of the population or change in the administrative districts, the elections in such increased or decreased constituencies for electing members to the National Assembly shall not be held until a general election is held at the expiration of the terms of office.

Article 28 (Adjustment of Fixed Number of Local Council Members during Terms of Office)

Where the fixed number of members, constituencies, or districts change in accordance with an increase or decrease of the population, or a change in the administrative districts, the elections in such increased or decreased constituencies shall not be held until the general election is held at the expiration of the terms of office: Provided, That if the district of the local government is changed, or the local government is established, abolished, divided or merged, the fixed number of the members of the local council concerned shall be adjusted as provided in the following subparagraphs and an election for the increase in the number of members shall be held in the case of subparagraph 3 (proviso), 5 or 6: <Amended on Apr. 1, 1995; Aug. 4, 2005>

1.

If the whole district corresponding to a constituency is integrated into another local government due to a district change of local government, the local council member elected in the integrated constituency shall be disqualified as the previous local council member and qualified as a new local council member; if part of the district corresponding to a constituency is integrated into another local government, the local council member elected in the constituency to which the integrated area belongs, shall choose the local council to which he or she intends to belong within 14 days after the district is changed and report in writing to the local council concerned, and if the chosen local council is not the previous one, he or she shall be disqualified as the previous local council member and qualified as a new local council member, but his or her term of office shall be the same as the remaining term of the previous local council membership and, notwithstanding the provisions of Article 22 or 23, the number of incumbent members shall be regarded as the fixed number of the local council members, respectively. In this case, the local council member who has acquired the qualification for the membership of the new local council, if having registered as a resident of the district under jurisdiction of the previous local government, shall register as a resident of the district under jurisdiction of the new local government within 14 days after the district is changed, and the local council member, if failing to report the local council to which he or she intends to belong within 14 days after the district is changed, shall be deemed to have reported to the council of the local government having jurisdiction over the district of which he or she registered as a resident, as of the 14th day after the district is changed;

2.

If two or more local governments are integrated to become a new local government, the previous local council member shall become a local council member of a new local government of the same category and hold office for his or her remaining term, and during this remaining term, notwithstanding the provisions of Article 22 or 23, the number of incumbent members shall be the fixed number of council members, respectively;

3.

If a local government is divided into two or more local governments, the previous local council member shall become a council member of the local government having jurisdiction over the constituency at the time of his or her candidate registration and hold office for his or her remaining term, and during this remaining term, notwithstanding the provisions of Article 22 or 23, the number of incumbent members shall be the fixed number of council members, respectively. In this case, the proportional representation members of the City/Do councils shall choose a City/Do council to which they intend to belong and report in writing their choice to the relevant City/Do council within 14 days after the City/Do is formed after being divided and the proportional representation members of the autonomous Gu/Si/Gun councils shall choose an autonomous Gu/Si/Gun council to which they intend to belong within 14 days from the date on which the relevant autonomous Gu/Si/Gun is formed after being divided and then report in writing their choice to the relevant autonomous Gu/Si/Gun council: Provided, That if the number of incumbent council members is fewer than 2/3 of the new fixed number of members as provided in Article 22 or 23, the election shall be held to fill up the fixed number of members;

4.

If a Si becomes a Metropolitan City, the previous Si council member and the Do council member who has been elected in the competent area shall be disqualified as the previous local council member, respectively, and qualified as the Metropolitan City council member, but his or her term of office shall be the remaining term of the previous Do council member and during this remaining term, notwithstanding the provisions of Article 22, the number of incumbent members shall be the fixed number of the council members;

5.

When an Eup or a Myeon becomes a Si, a new Si council shall be formed and the fixed number of the newly formed Si council members shall be the number calculated by subtracting the fixed number of the Gun council members who are already elected in the relevant constituency from the fixed number that is newly set by the election boundary delimitation commission for the autonomous Gu/Si/Gun council members of the relevant City/Do and the Gun council members who are already elected in the relevant constituency shall become the members of the Si council. In this case, the number combined by the fixed number of newly elected members shall be made the total fixed number of the autonomous Gu/Si/Gun council members by the City/Do provided for in the provisions of Article 23;

6.

In the case of subparagraph 4, when any Gu that is not an autonomous Gu becomes an autonomous Gu, an autonomous Gu council shall be newly formed and the fixed number of the autonomous Gu council members shall be newly determined by the election boundary delimitation commission for the autonomous Gu/Si/Gun council members of the relevant City/Do. In this case, the number combined by the newly fixed number of members shall be made the total fixed number of the autonomous Gu/Si/Gun council members by the City/Do provided for in the provisions of Article 23.

Article 29 (Election for Membership Increase of Local Council Members)

(1)

The election for the membership increase as provided in subparagraph 3 (proviso), 5 or 6 of Article 28 shall be based on the new constituency demarcated as provided in Article 22, 23, or 26, but shall be held for the constituency in which there are no previous local council members or the number of the previous local council members falls short of the fixed number of members.

(2)

In the boundary delimitation of paragraph (1), the constituency for the previous local council member shall be the constituency having jurisdiction over his or her domicile at the time of his or her candidate registration, and if the number of the previous local council members in a newly demarcated constituency exceeds the new fixed number of council members for the constituency, the number of members, including those in excess of the new fixed number, shall be the fixed number of members for the constituency concerned until the general election is held at the expiration of the terms of office, notwithstanding the provisions of Article 22 or 23.

(3)

The affairs concerning the election for the membership increase as provided in paragraph (1), where the Gu/Si/Gun election commission concerned is not established, may be attended to by the Gu/Si/Gun election commission designated by the City/Do election commission or having previously had jurisdiction over the district concerned.

Article 30 (Election in Case of Abolition, Establishment, Division, and Merger of Local Governments)

(1)	Where a local government is established, abolished, divided, or merged, the head of the local government concerned shall be elected as follows: <Amended on Apr. 1, 1995>

1.	Where a new Si, autonomous Gu or Metropolitan City is established, the head of the local government concerned shall be newly elected;

2.

Where a local government is divided into two or more local governments of the same category, the head of the previous local government shall, from among the newly established local governments, become the head of a local government that has jurisdiction over the district in which the office of the previous local government is located and the heads of other new local governments shall be newly elected. In this case, if the office of the previous local government is located in the district under jurisdiction of another local government, which local government shall elect the new head shall be determined at the time when Acts regarding the division of a local government are enacted;

3.	Where two or more local governments of the same category are merged to become a new local government, the heads of the previous local governments shall lose their positions of office and the head of the new local government shall be elected;

4.	Where a local government is abolished due to the merger into another local government, the head of the abolished local government shall lose his or her position of office.

(2)	Where only the name of a local government changes, the head of the previous local government shall become the head of the changed local government and hold office for the remaining term at the time of such change.

(3)	“Local government of the same category" in this Act means a local government of the same category as provided in Article 2 (1) of the Local Autonomy Act. <Amended on Aug. 4, 2005>

Article 31 (Voting Districts)

(1)	A voting district shall be established in an Eup/Myeon/Dong.

(2)

A Gu/Si/Gun election commission may establish two or more voting districts in an Eup/Myeon/Dong. In such cases, the Ri (referring to an administrative Ri as provided in Article 7 (4) of the Local Autonomy Act; hereinafter the same shall apply) of the Eup/Myeon may not be divided so that part of it may belong to another voting district. <Amended on Aug. 4, 2005; Jan. 25, 2010; Jan. 12, 2021>

(3)	A Gu/Si/Gun election commission, upon establishing or changing the voting districts or holding an election, shall publicly announce the names and districts thereof as prescribed by the National Election Commission Regulations.

Article 32 (Change in Districts)

(1)

Even where the area of a constituency, administrative district, or voting district changes somewhere from the record date of the official list of eligible voters as provided in Article 37 (1) to the election day, the area shall be deemed not to have changed as far as the election in question is concerned. <Amended on Aug. 4, 2005>

(2)

Where the name of a local government or its administrative district changes without an actual change in their territorial jurisdiction, the names of the election district and the constituency for electing a member to the National Assembly and the name of the administrative district in the district thereof in ordinances of the City/Do as provided in the Appendixs 1, 2 and 3 and Article 26 (2) shall be deemed to have changed to the name of the changed local government or administrative district. <Amended on Aug. 4, 2005>

Article 33 (Election Period)

(1)	The election period for each election shall be as follows: <Amended on Mar. 7, 2002; Mar. 12, 2004>

1.	23 days for presidential elections;

2.	14 days for National Assembly elections and elections of local council members and the heads of local governments;

3.	Deleted. <Mar. 7, 2002>

(2)	Deleted. <Mar. 12, 2004>

(3)	"Election period" means the period as specified in the following: <Amended on Jul. 28, 2011>

1.	In cases of presidential elections: From the day following the deadline for candidate registration to the election day;

2.	In cases of National Assembly, elections and elections of local council members, and the heads of local governments: 6 days from the deadline for candidate registration to the election day.

[Title Amended on Jul. 28, 2011]

Article 34 (Election Day)

(1)	The election day for each election to be held at the expiration of the terms of office shall be as follows: <Amended on Feb. 6, 1998; Mar. 12, 2004>

1.	A presidential election shall be held on the first Wednesday from the 70th day before the expiration of the term of office;

2.	A National Assembly election shall be held on the first Wednesday from the 50th day before the expiration of the terms of office;

3.	An election of local council members and the heads of local governments shall be held on the first Wednesday from the 30th day before the expiration of the terms of office.

(2)

Where the election day as provided in paragraph (1) falls on a folk festival day or legal holiday closely related with the lives of the people or the day preceding or following the election day is a legal holiday, the election shall be held on the Wednesday of the following week. <Amended on Mar. 12, 2004>

Article 35 (Election Day of Special Election)

(1)

An election to fill up a presidential vacancy or reelection (excluding a reelection provided for in paragraph (3); hereafter in paragraph (2) the same shall apply) shall be held within 60 days from the time when the cause for holding the election becomes definite, but the election day shall be publicly announced by the President or acting President not later than 50 days before the election day. <Amended on Feb. 12, 2009>

(2)

The dates of special election, reelection, election for a membership increase, and election of the heads of local governments due to an establishment, abolition, division or merger of local governments shall be as follows: <Amended on Feb. 16, 2000; Mar. 12, 2004; Aug. 4, 2005; Jul. 28, 2011; Aug. 13, 2015; Dec. 29, 2020>

1.

The special election and reelection of members of the National Assembly or local councils or the heads of local governments shall be held once every year, and the election of members of local councils for a membership increase, shall be held twice every year as prescribed in the following items; and in such cases, Article 34 (2) shall apply mutatis mutandis to the election day, and an election for which the reason for holding it becomes definite after 30 days prior to the election day shall be held on the election day of the following special election day;

(a)

Special elections and reelections of the National Assembly members and local council members, and special elections of the local council members for a membership increase shall be held on the first Wednesday of April:. Provided, That an election, the reason for holding which become definite after March 1, shall be held on the first Wednesday of April of the following year;.

(b)	A special election or reelection of the head of a local government, the reason for holding which becomes definite from September 1 of the preceding year to the end of February, shall be held on the first Wednesday of April;

(c)	A special election or reelection for the head of a local government, the reason for holding which become definite from March 1 to August 31, shall be held on the first Wednesday of October;

2.

The election of the heads of local governments due to an establishment, abolition, division or merger of local governments shall be held on a day determined by the chairperson of the competent constituency election commission in consultation with the head of the relevant local government (including his or her proxy) within 60 days from the time when the reason for holding the relevant election becomes definite. In such cases, the election day shall be publicly announced not later than 30 days before the election day by the chairperson of the competent constituency election commission.

(3)	The reelection provided for in Article 197 shall be held within 30 days after the final judgment or decision is notified, but the competent constituency election commission shall determine the reelection day and publicly announce it.

(4)	"Special election" in this Act means an election as provided for in paragraphs (1) through (3) and Article 36.

(5)	"Time when the cause for holding the election becomes definite" in this Act means the following days: <Amended on Feb. 16, 2000; Mar. 12, 2004>

1.	The day when the cause therefor occurs, in cases of an election to be held due to a presidential vacancy;

2.

The day when the National Election Commission is in receipt of the notification of relevant causes in cases of a special election of a constituency member of the National Assembly, and the day when the competent constituency election commission is in receipt of the said notification in cases of a special election of a member of local council and for the head of a local government;

3.

The day when the cause therefor becomes definite in cases of a reelection (where it has become definite by a judgment or ruling of the court, the day when the competent constituency election commission is in receipt of the notification of such a judgment or ruling). In such cases, for reelection under Article 195 (2), the time when a cause for holding the special election becomes definite shall be deemed to be the time when a cause for holding the reelection becomes definite;

4.	The day when the Appendix 2 or ordinances of City/Do concerning the new constituency becomes effective, in cases of an election for a membership increase of local council members;

5.	The day when the statutes regarding the establishment, abolition, division, or merger of the local government enter into force, in cases of an election of the head of a local government due to the establishment, abolition, division or merger of the local government;

6.	The day when the postponement of the election is publicly announced as provided for in Article 196 (3), in cases of the postponed election;

7.	The day when the revoting day is publicly announced as provided for in Article 36, in cases of revoting.

[Title Amended on Jul. 28, 2011]

Article 36 (Election Day of Postponed Election)

Where a postponed election as provided in Article 196 is held, the election day shall be determined and publicly announced by the President, in cases of the presidential election and the election for the National Assembly member, and by the chairman of the competent constituency election commission, in cases of the election for the local council member and the head of the local government, and where a revoting as provided in Article 198 is held, the revoting day shall be determined and publicly announced by the chairman of the competent constituency election commission. <Amended on Feb. 16, 2000>

Article 37 (Preparation of Official Lists)

(1)

Whenever an election is held, the head of a Gu (including a Gu that is not an autonomous Gu), Si (referring to a Si with no Gu established therein), or Gun (hereinafter referred to as "Gu/Si/Gun") shall survey, for each voting district, persons who have the right to vote (including foreigners under Article 15 (2) 3 in cases of elections of local council members and the heads of local governments; excluding persons enrolled in the official list of overseas eligible voters determined pursuant to Article 218-13 or the official list of overseas absentee voters of another Si/Gun/Gu), and who is registered as a resident in the relevant district pursuant to Article 15, as of 28 days prior to the presidential election and as of 22 days prior to the National Assembly election and the election of local council members and the heads of local governments (hereinafter referred to as "base date for preparation of the official list of eligible voters"), and shall prepare the official list of eligible voters within five days from the base date for preparation of the official list of eligible voters (hereinafter referred to as "period for preparation of the official list of eligible voters"). In such cases, persons enrolled in the official list of overseas absentee voters determined pursuant to Article 218-13 shall be marked with such fact in the column of remarks in the official list of eligible voters. <Amended on Feb. 12, 2009; Jul. 28, 2011; Feb. 29, 2012; Jan. 17, 2014; Aug. 13, 2015>

(2)	The official list of eligible voters shall include an eligible voter's name, address, sex, date of birth, and other necessary matters.

(3)	No one may enter him or her in two or more official lists of eligible voters in the same election.

(4)	The head of a Gu/Si/Gun shall, upon preparing the official list of eligible voters, immediately send an electronic copy thereof to the competent Gu/Si/Gun election commission. <Amended on Feb. 12, 2009; Apr. 6, 2018>

(5)	Where the number of eligible voters in a voting district exceeds 1,000, the official list of eligible voters may be divided into fascicles in means that each fascicle can contain approximately the same number of eligible voters.

(6)	The official list of eligible voters as provided for in paragraph (1) may be prepared through a computer system. <Amended on Aug. 4, 2005>

(7)

In order to support the preparation of the official list of eligible voters under paragraph (1), the Minister of the Interior and Safety may process resident registration numbers prescribed in Article 7-2 (1) of the Resident Registration Act, alien registration numbers prescribed in Article 31 (5) of the Immigration Act, and report numbers of the domestic place of residence prescribed in Article 7 (1) of the Act on the Immigration and Legal Status of Overseas Koreans, and may provide the results to the head, etc. of a Gu/Si/Gun. In such cases, the Minister of the Interior and Safety may request necessary data from the head of a relevant administrative agency or the head of any other public institution, and upon receipt of such request, he or she shall comply therewith, unless there is a compelling reason not to do so. <Added on Jan. 21, 2022>

(8)	The form of the official list of eligible voters and other necessary matters shall be prescribed by the National Election Commission Regulations. <Amended on Jan. 21, 2022>

[Title Amended on Jul. 28, 2011]

[Paragraph (1) of this Article, which was decided to be inconsistent with the Constitution by the Constitutional Court on Jun. 28, 2007, is amended by Act No. 9466, Feb. 12, 2009]

Article 38 (Reporting of Home Voting or Shipboard Voting)

(1)

Any person who is qualified for the enrollment in the official list of eligible voters and resides in the Republic of Korea but who falls under any subparagraph of paragraph (4) 1 through 5 (excluding foreigners defined under Article 15 (2) 3) may file a report in writing with the head of the competent Gu/Si/Gun (hereinafter referred to as “home voting report”) during the period for the preparation of the official list of eligible voters. In such cases, a home voting report shall be dispatched by registered mail, and the postal charges therefor shall be borne by the State or the competent local government. <Amended on Feb. 12, 2009; Jan. 17, 2014>

(2)

A seafarer who is qualified for the enrollment in the official list of eligible voters for a presidential election or a National Assembly election held at the expiration of the terms of office of the members of the National Assembly but is unable to vote at an early voting polling station or a regular polling station because he or she is scheduled to be or is on board any of the following ships, he or she may file a report in writing [including where a seafarer on board files a report via facsimile (including electronic methods; hereinafter the same shall apply) in the relevant ship] with the head of the competent Gu/Si/Gun during the period for preparation of the official list of eligible voters (hereinafter referred to as “shipboard voting report”). In such cases, the latter part of paragraph (1) shall apply mutatis mutandis where a shipboard voting report is filed via mail: <Added on Feb. 29, 2012; Mar. 23, 2013; Jan. 17, 2014; Aug. 13, 2015; Apr. 6, 2018>

1.

Any of the following ships, the mastership of which is held by a citizen of the Republic of Korea and that is registered as a ship of the Republic of Korea under Article 2 of the Ship Act (including a bareboat chartered under the condition that it shall acquire the nationality of the Republic of Korea):

(a)	A ship used for deep-sea fisheries with a permit granted by the Minister of Oceans and Fisheries under Article 6 (1) of the Distant Water Fisheries Development Act;

(b)	A ship used for overseas passenger transportation services with a license issued by the Minister of Oceans and Fisheries under Article 4 (1) of the Marine Transportation Act;

(c)	A ship used for overseas cargo transportation services after filing for registration with the Minister of Oceans and Fisheries under Article 24 (2) of the Marine Transportation Act;

2.	A ship with a foreign nationality, which is managed by a person who engages in a ship management business registered with the Minister of Oceans and Fisheries pursuant to Article 33 (1) of the Marine Transportation Act and the mastership of which is held by a citizen of the Republic of Korea.

(3)

A person who intends to file a home voting report or a shipboard voting report shall state the following matters in the relevant report form, and a person who falls under paragraph (4) 1 or 2 shall obtain confirmation thereon from the head of the institution or facility to which he or she belongs; a person who falls under paragraph (4) 3 (excluding persons registered pursuant to Article 32 of the Act on Welfare of Persons with Disabilities as those with disabilities) from the head of the competent Tong/Ri/Ban; and a seafarer who falls under paragraph (4) 6 from the owner of the relevant ship (in cases of a ship falling under paragraph (2) 2, referring to a person who engages in a ship management business) or the master of the relevant ship. In such cases, the head of each Gu/Si/Gun shall send a guidebook on the home voting report and a home voting report form to each person registered as a person with disabilities pursuant to Article 32 of the Act on Welfare of Persons with Disabilities, from among the persons specified in paragraph (4) 3, by not later than 10 days before the base date for preparation of the official list of eligible voters: <Amended on Mar. 12, 2004; Aug. 4, 2005; Feb. 29, 2008; Feb. 12, 2009; Feb. 29, 2012; Jan. 17, 2014; Aug. 13, 2015>

1.	The reason for the home voting or shipboard voting;

2.	Name, sex, and date of birth;

3.	Address or place of residence (referring to the name of the ship and the facsimile number in cases of a seafarer specified in paragraph (4) 6).

(4)	Any of the following persons may vote at his or her place of residence (referring to the ship in cases of a seafarer under subparagraph 6): <Amended on Mar. 12, 2004; Aug. 4, 2005; Feb. 29, 2012; Jan. 17, 2014>

1.

A person who performs his or her service in a military base or aboard a military vessel located too far away from the nearest early voting polling station or a regular polling station to vote, among military personnel and police officers who stay for a long term in a military base or aboard a ship in accordance with statutes or regulations;

2.	A person who has been admitted for a long time in a hospital, sanatorium, asylum, prison, or detention center;

3.	A person who is unable to move freely on the ground of his or her serious physical disability;

4.	A person who resides in an island specified by the National Election Commission Regulations, among remote and isolated islands too far away for inhabitants to vote at the nearest early voting polling station or regular polling station;

5.	A person specified by the National Election Commission Regulations as a person who stays for a long time in an area in which it is impracticable to install an early voting polling station or regular polling station;

6.	A seafarer who falls under paragraph (2).

(5)

Upon receipt of a home voting report or a shipboard voting report, the head of a Gu/Si/Gun shall verify the facts stated in the relevant report, enter relevant facts in the official list of eligible voters, if the home voting report or shipboard voting report is proper, and prepare separate official lists of reported home voters and reported shipboard voters (hereinafter referred to as “official lists of reported home voters and reported shipboard voters”). <Amended on Jan. 17, 2014>

(6)

When the head of a Gu/Si/Gun completes the preparation of official lists of reported home voters and reported shipboard voters, he or she shall send certified copies thereof (including photocopies of computerized data) to the competent Gu/Si/Gun election commission. <Amended on Feb. 12, 2009; Feb. 29, 2012; Jan. 17, 2014>

(7)	Article 37 (6) shall apply mutatis mutandis to the preparation of the official lists of reported home voters and reported shipboard voters. <Amended on Feb. 29, 2012; Jan. 17, 2014>

(8)

The forms of a home voting report and a shipboard voting report, the forms of official lists of reported home voters and reported shipboard voters, the procedure for the verification of reasons for the home voting or shipboard voting, and other necessary matters shall be prescribed by the National Election Commission Regulations. <Amended on Jan. 17, 2014>

[Title Amended on Jan. 17, 2014]

[Paragraph (1) of this Article, which was decided to be inconsistent with the Constitution by the Constitutional Court on Jun. 28, 2007, is amended by Act No. 9466, Feb. 12, 2009]

[Paragraph (4) of this Article, which was decided to be inconsistent with the Constitution by the Constitutional Court on Jun. 28, 2007, is amended by Act No. 11374, Feb. 29, 2012.]

Article 39 (Supervision over Preparation of Official Lists)

(1)

Official list of eligible voters (including official lists of reported home voters and reported shipboard voters; hereafter in this Article, the same shall apply) shall be prepared under the supervision of the competent Gu/Si/Gun election commission and the competent Eup/Myeon/Dong election commission. <Amended on Aug. 4, 2005; Jan. 17, 2014>

(2)	When a public official who is engaged in the preparation of the official list of eligible voters is appointed or dismissed, the head of the relevant Gu/Si/Gun shall without delay notify the competent Gu/Si/Gun election commission. <Amended on Feb. 12, 2009>

(3)

A person who has the right to appoint and dismiss a public official to be engaged in the preparation of the official list of eligible voters shall, when wishing to dismiss the public official during the period for preparation of the official list of eligible voters, consult with the competent Gu/Si/Gun election commission or its immediate superior election commission.

(4)

If a public official who is engaged in the preparation of the official list of eligible voters without good cause, fails to comply with directions, orders, or demands for correction from the competent Gu/Si/Gun election commission or the Eup/Myeon/Dong election commission, neglects to perform his or her duties, or commits an illegal or wrongful act, with respect to the preparation of the official list of eligible voters, the competent Gu/Si/Gun election commission or its immediate superior election commission may demand that the person who has the right to appoint or dismiss him or her should replace him or her. <Amended on Aug. 4, 2005>

(5)	Upon receiving the demand for replacement as provided for in paragraph (4), a person who has the right to appoint or dismiss a public official to be engaged in the preparation of the official list of eligible voters shall comply with it, unless there is a compelling reason not to do so.

(6)	Deleted. <Apr. 30, 1998>

(7)	Deleted. <Apr. 30, 1998>

(8)	No person shall interfere with the preparation affairs regarding the official list of eligible voters or take an act having influence on the preparation of the official list of eligible voters in any other way. <Amended on Apr. 30, 1998>

(9)	The notification of matters on appointment and dismissal of public officials engaged in the preparation of the official list of eligible voters, and other necessary matters, shall be prescribed by the National Election Commission Regulations. <Amended on Apr. 30, 1998>

Article 40 (Public Perusal of Official Lists)

(1)

The head of a Gu/Si/Gun shall offer the official list of eligible voters for public perusal in a predetermined place for three days from the next day of the date when the period for preparation of the official list of eligible voters expires. In such cases, the head of a Gu/Si/Gun shall take technical measures in order for persons who have the right to vote to peruse the official list of eligible voters on the website opened and operated by the relevant Gu/Si/Gun. <Amended on Feb. 12, 2009>

(2)

Any eligible voter may freely peruse the official list of eligible voters: Provided, That the perusal of the official list of eligible voters on the website referred to in the provisions of paragraph (1) shall be limited to the information pertaining to the eligible voter himself or herself. <Amended on Aug. 4, 2005>

(3)	The head of a Gu/Si/Gun shall publicly announce the place, the period, the address of the website and perusal methods referred to in paragraph (1) not later than three days before the beginning of public inspection. <Amended on Aug. 4, 2005; Feb. 12, 2009>

Article 41 (Objection and Decision)

(1)	An eligible voter may, upon finding an omitted or misspelled entry or an ineligible voter in the official list of eligible voters, file an objection orally or in writing with the head of the relevant Gu/Si/Gun during the inspection period. <Amended on Feb. 12, 2009>

(2)

The head of a Gu/Si/Gun shall, upon receiving the objection as provided in paragraph (1), examine and decide on it, by the date following the date when the objection is raised, but if deciding that the objection is well-grounded, shall immediately correct the official list of eligible voters and notify the person who has raised the objection, the relevant person and the competent Gu/Si/Gun election commission thereof, and if deciding that the objection is groundless, shall notify the person who has filed the objection and the competent Gu/Si/Gun election commission thereof. <Amended on Feb. 12, 2009>

Article 42 (Appeal of Dissatisfaction and Decision)

(1)	A person who has filed an objection or the relevant person may, when dissatisfied with the decision as provided in Article 41 (2), file an appeal of dissatisfaction in writing with the competent Gu/Si/Gun election commission by the date following the date when the notification is received.

(2)

The competent Gu/Si/Gun election commission shall, upon receiving an appeal as provided in paragraph (1), examine and decide on it, by the date following the date when the appeal is filed, but if deciding that the appeal is well-grounded, shall immediately notify the head of the relevant Gu/ Si/Gun thereof so that the head can correct the official list of eligible voters and notify the person who has filed the appeal and the relevant person, and if deciding that the appeal is groundless, shall notify the person who has filed the appeal and the head of the relevant Gu/Si/Gun. <Amended on Feb. 12, 2009>

Article 43 (Relief of Persons Omitted in Official Lists)

(1)

Where the head of a Gu/Si/Gun makes an error so that a rightful eligible voter is found to be omitted in the official list of eligible voters from the day following the date when the objection period expires as provided in Article 41 (1) to the day preceding the date when the official list of eligible voters becomes final as provided in Article 44 (1), the eligible voter in question or the head of the relevant Gu/Si/Gun may request the competent Gu/Si/Gun election commission in writing to enter the omitted person in the official list of eligible voters, by appending explanatory materials, such as a certified copy of such person's resident registration card. <Amended on Feb. 12, 2009; Jul. 28, 2011>

(2)

The competent Gu/Si/Gun election commission shall, upon receiving a request as provided in paragraph (1), examine and decide on it, by the day following the date when the request is submitted, but if deciding that it is well-grounded, shall immediately notify the head of the relevant Gu/Si/Gun thereof so that the head can correct the official list of eligible voters and notify the person who has submitted the request thereof, and if deciding that it is groundless, shall notify the person who has submitted the request and the head of the relevant Gu/Si/Gun. <Amended on Feb. 12, 2009>

[Title Amended on Jul. 28, 2011]

Article 44 (Finalization and Effects of Official Lists)

(1)

An official list of eligible voters shall be finalized 12 days before the election day, while an official list of reported home voters and reported shipboard voters shall be finalized on the day immediately following the end of the period for preparation of official lists of eligible voters, and such official lists of eligible voters shall be valid only for each relevant election. <Amended on Jan. 17, 2012; Jan. 17, 2014>

(2)

The head of a Gu/Si/Gun shall take technical measures in order for an eligible voter to confirm whether he or she is enrolled in the official list of eligible voters, the registration number in the official list of eligible voters, and the location of polling stations on the Internet web-site opened and operated by the relevant Gu/Si/Gun, from the next day of the date when the official list of eligible voters becomes final to the closing hour of balloting on the election day.

(3)	When providing public announcement pursuant to Article 40 (3), the head of a Gu/Si/Gun shall also publicly announce the address of web-site, period of confirmation, and method for confirmation necessary for confirmation under paragraph (2).

[This Article Wholly Amended on Jul. 28, 2011]

Article 44-2 (Preparation of Integrated Official Lists of Eligible Voters)

(1)	The National Election Commission shall prepare a single official list of eligible voters (hereinafter referred to as “integrated official list of eligible voters”) with copies of computerized data of the official lists of eligible voters finalized to use at early voting polling stations.

(2)	When the National Election Commission prepares an integrated official list of eligible voters, it shall take technical measures necessary to prevent a single person from casting votes twice or more.

(3)	The integrated official list of eligible voters shall be prepared with an electronic computer system.

(4)

Each Eup/Myeon/Dong election commission shall print out the official list of eligible voters, prepared by the National Election Commission, taking technical measures thereto pursuant to paragraph (2) after the end of the period set for early voting under Article 148 (1) in order to use it at polling stations, and then the head of each Eup/Myeon/Dong election commission shall put it into an envelope, seal and store it, while persons recommended by each political party shall be permitted to witness the process of storing it. In such cases, when a person recommended by a political party fails to appear at the time of storing, such person shall be deemed to renounce his or her right to witness.

(5)	No person shall inspect, use, or leak the official list of eligible voters printed out in accordance with paragraph (4) in any manner other than the manners prescribed by this Act.

(6)

The methods for the preparation of the integrated official list of eligible voters and the storage of the official lists of eligible voters printed out in order to use them at polling stations on the election day and other necessary matters shall be prescribed by the National Election Commission Regulations.

[This Article Added on Jan. 17, 2014]

Article 45 (Re-Preparation of Official Lists)

(1)

Where the official list of eligible voters (including official lists of reported home voters and reported shipboard voters; hereafter in this Article, the same shall apply) is destroyed or damaged due to a natural disaster or any other accident, the head of a Gu/Si/Gun shall prepare a new official list of eligible voters, if it is necessary for the election: Provided, That where a certified copy of the official lists of reported home voters and reported shipboard voters sent under Articles 38 (6) exists, it is not required to prepare such official lists of eligible voters again. <Amended on Feb. 12, 2009; Feb. 29, 2012; Jan. 17, 2014; Apr. 6, 2018>

(2)	The re-preparation, public inspection, finalizations and valid term of the official list of eligible voters as provided for in the main clause of paragraph (1) and other necessary matters, shall be prescribed by the National Election Commission Regulations.

Article 46 (Delivery of Copy of Official Lists)

(1)

Upon receipt of a request from a candidate [excluding a candidate for proportional representation members of the National Assembly and a candidate for proportional representation members of local councils (referring to proportional representation members of City/Do councils and proportional representation members of autonomous Gu/Si/Gun councils; hereinafter the same shall apply)], an election campaign manager (excluding an election campaign manager for an election of proportional representation members of the National Assembly and an election of proportional representation members of local councils) or the chief of an election campaign liaison office, the head of a Gu/Si/Gun shall issue to the requesting person, within 24 hours, a set of copies of the official list of eligible voters or official lists of reported home voters and reported shipboard voters, already prepared, or a set of copies of computerized data thereof for each candidate. <Amended on Apr. 1, 1995; Feb. 16, 2000; Mar. 7, 2002; Aug. 4, 2005; Feb. 12, 2009; Jan. 17, 2014>

(2)	A request for the issuance of copies of the official list of eligible voters under paragraph (1) or copies of the computerized data thereof shall be filed in writing with the head of the competent Gu/Si/Gun before the beginning of the election period. <Amended on Jul. 28, 2011; Jan. 17, 2014>

(3)	A person who files a request for the issuance of copies of the official list of eligible voters or copies of the computerized data thereof under paragraph (2) shall pay fees for the preparation of the copies, along with the request for issuance. <Amended on Feb. 16, 2000; Jan. 17, 2014>

(4)	No person shall transfer or lend the copies of an official list of eligible voters or the copies of computerized data, which have been issued pursuant to paragraph (1), to another person or use such copies for a gain on property or any other profit. <Amended on Feb. 16, 2000; Jan. 17, 2014>

(5)	A request for issuance and the payment of fees under paragraphs (2) and (3) and other necessary matters shall be prescribed by the National Election Commission Regulations. <Amended on Feb. 16, 2000; Jan. 17, 2014>

[Title Amended on Jul. 28, 2011]

Article 47 (Nomination of Candidates by Political Parties)

(1)

A political party may nominate its member as a candidate (hereinafter referred to as "party-nominated candidate") within the limits of the fixed number to be elected in each constituency in an election: Provided, That in cases of proportional representation members of autonomous Gu/Si/Gun councils, the political party may nominate its members as candidates in excess of the limits of the fixed number. <Amended on Apr. 1, 1995; Feb. 16, 2000; Aug. 4, 2005; Jan. 14, 2020>

(2)	When any political party nominates its members as candidates pursuant to paragraph (1), it shall do so according to democratic procedures. <Amended on Dec. 29, 2020>

(3)

When any political party intends to nominate its members as candidates to run in an election of proportional representation members of the National Assembly and candidates to run in an election of proportional representation members of local councils, such political party shall nominate not less than 50/100 of the candidates from among women and nominate candidates falling under every odd number in order of the candidate roll from among women. <Amended on Aug. 4, 2005>

(4)

When any political party intends to nominate its members as candidates to run in an election of constituency members of the National Assembly and in an election of constituency members of local councils after their terms of office expire, such political party shall endeavor to nominate not less than 30/100 of the total number of the candidates to run in the election for nationwide constituencies from among women. <Added on Aug. 4, 2005>

(5)

When any political party intends to nominate its members as candidates to run in an election of constituency members of local councils after their terms of office expire, such political party shall nominate not less than one woman as a candidate to run in an election, from among either of an election of constituency members of City/Do councils or an election of constituency members of autonomous Gu/Si/Gun councils for each constituency for electing a member to the National Assembly (excluding Gun regions, and when some parts of autonomous Gus combine with other autonomous Gus or military regions, becoming a constituency for electing a member to the National Assembly, the relevant parts of such autonomous Gus are excluded). <Added on Jan. 25, 2010; Mar. 12, 2010>

Article 47-2 (Prohibitions on Accepting Money and Articles concerning Nomination of Candidates by Political Parties)

(1)

No one shall offer, manifest his or her intent to offer, or promise to offer money, goods, any other property interest, or any position, public or private, or shall receive money, goods, any other property interest, or any position, public or private, or accept the intent manifested to offer money, goods, or any other property interest, or any position, public or private, in connection with the nomination of a specific person as a candidate by a political party. In such cases, if a candidate (including a person who intends to become a candidate) or the spouse of a candidate (hereafter in this paragraph referred to as “candidate or his or her spouse”) or a lineal ascendant or descendant or a sibling of a candidate or of his or her spouse offers money, goods, or any other property interest under whatsoever name or pretext, such as repayment of a debt or lending of a loan, to a political party, a member of the National Assembly (including the representative of the council of party members in the constituency for electing a member to the National Assembly or in an autonomous Gu/Si/Gun under Article 37 (3) of the Political Party Act; hereafter in this paragraph referred to as “member of the National Assembly, etc.”), the spouse of a member of the National Assembly, etc. or a lineal ascendant or descendant or sibling of a member of the National Assembly, etc. or of his or her spouse during a period between 150 days before the election day and 60 days after the election day, other than support payments or the payment of party membership fees under the Political Funds Act, such money, goods, or property interest shall be deemed to be offered in connection with the nomination of a specific person as a candidate by a political party. <Amended on Feb. 13, 2014>

(2)	No one shall direct, persuade, request or mediate concerning any act prescribed in paragraph (1).

[This Article Added on Feb. 29, 2008]

Article 48 (Recommendations of Candidates by Eligible Voters)

(1)

Eligible voters who have registered as residents in any constituency may recommend anyone who is not a member of any political party as a candidate (hereinafter referred to as "independent candidate") to run in an election for the relevant constituency by each election (excluding an election of proportional representation members of the National Assembly and an election of proportional representation members of local councils). <Amended on Aug. 4, 2005>

(2)

A person who intends to be an independent candidate shall obtain recommendations of eligible voters as provided for in the following, using a letter of recommendation which is approved, sealed and issued by the competent constituency election commission from five days before the beginning of the application for candidate registration (30 days before the beginning of the application for candidate registration, in cases of an election to be held at the expiration of the presidential term; three days after the reason becomes definite, in cases of an election due to the presidential vacancy): <Amended on Apr. 1, 1995; Feb. 16, 2000; Aug. 4, 2005; Jan. 17, 2012>

1.	In cases of a presidential election:

Recommendations of 3,500 to 6,000 eligible voters from five or more Cities/Dos, who shall be comprised of at least 700 eligible voters registered as residents in each City/Do;

2.	In cases of an election of constituency members of the National Assembly or the heads of autonomous Gus/Sis/Guns:

Recommendations of 300 to 500 eligible voters;

3.	In cases of an election of constituency members of City/Do councils:

Recommendations of 100 to 200 eligible voters;

4.	In cases of an election of the Mayor/Do Governor:

Recommendations of 1,000 to 2,000 electors who are divided into a third or more autonomous Gu/Si/Gun in the relevant City/Do, each of which includes 50 or more electors who have made resident registrations;

5.	In cases of an election of the autonomous Gu/Si/Gun council members of local constituency:

Recommendations of 50 to 100 electors: Provided, That in cases of a constituency with a population of fewer than 1,000: Recommendations of 30 to 50 electors.

(3)	In cases of paragraph (2), the following acts shall be prohibited: <Amended on Apr. 6, 2018>

1.	Obtaining recommendations using a letter of recommendation which is not approved and sealed;

2.	Obtaining recommendations in excess of the maximum number of recommending eligible voters;

3.	Obtaining false recommendations by forging or tampering with the signatures or seals of recommending eligible voters.

(4)	The seal of approval for a letter of recommendation and the application for issuance of a letter of recommendation under paragraph (2) may be obtained and made from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. every day, regardless of statutory holidays. <Added on Jul. 28, 2011>

(5)	The form, request for issuance, and issuance of a letter of recommendation of eligible voter, and other necessary matters shall be prescribed by the National Election Commission Regulations. <Amended on Jul. 28, 2011>

[Title Amended on Jul. 28, 2011]

Article 49 (Registration of Candidates)

(1)

A candidate shall apply for candidate registration in writing to the competent constituency election commission for two days (hereinafter referred to as "candidate registration period") from the 24th day prior to the election in cases of a presidential election, and from the 20th day prior to the election in cases of a National Assembly election and an election of local council members and the heads of local governments (hereinafter referred to as "beginning day of the application for candidate registration"). <Amended on Jul. 28, 2011>

(2)

The registration of a party-nominated candidate shall be applied for by the political party which has nominated the candidate for a presidential election or an election of proportional representation members of the National Assembly or proportional representation members of local councils, and by the person who intends to be a party-nominated candidate for an election of constituency members of the National Assembly, constituency members of local councils or the heads of local governments, but the application for registration shall be accompanied by the letter of nomination which is signed and sealed by the official stamp or the representative of the nominating political party, and by the acceptance letter of the candidate (limited to a presidential election and an election of proportional representation members of the National Assembly and proportional representation members of local councils). In such cases, the application for registration of candidates for proportional representation members of the National Assembly and for proportional representation members of local councils shall be accompanied by the roll of candidates whose rankings are decided by the nominating political party. <Amended on Jul. 28, 2011>

(3)

A person who intends to be an independent candidate shall submit an application for registration along with letters of recommendation (in a single or plural entry, and the seal between pages is not required) signed and sealed (thumbprint is not permitted) by eligible voters pursuant to Article 48. <Amended on Jul. 28, 2011; Dec. 24, 2015>

(4)

A person who applies for the registration of a candidate under paragraphs (1) through (3) shall submit the following documents and pay the election deposit specified in Article 56 (1): <Amended on Feb. 16, 2000; Mar. 7, 2002; Mar. 12, 2004; Aug. 4, 2005; Mar. 2, 2006; Feb. 29, 2008; Jan. 25, 2010; Jul. 28, 2011; Jan. 17, 2014; Feb. 13, 2014>

1.	Evidentiary documents on eligibility for election as prescribed by the National Election Commission Regulations;

2.	A written report on property subject to registration under Article 10-2 (1) of the Public Service Ethics Act;

3.	A report on military service records as provided for in Article 9 (1) of the Act on the Report and Disclosure of Military Service Records of Public Servants;

4.

A written report on the payment or default (excluding any default of not more than 100,000 won or for not more than three months) of income tax (limited to where it is intended to submit such certificate of the income tax withheld at source pursuant to Article 127 (1) of the Income Tax Act), property tax and comprehensive real estate holding tax for the latest five years by the candidate, his or her spouse, lineal ascendants and descendants (excluding his or her married daughters, maternal grandfather and grandmother, and daughters' children). In such cases, the lineal ascendant of the candidate may refuse to make a report on his or her payment or default of taxes;

5.	Evidentiary documents on criminal records (including expired sentences; hereinafter referred to as "criminal records") of a fine of at least one million won or any heavier punishment;

6.

A certificate of final academic background relating to the regular academic background recognized by the Elementary and Secondary Education Act and the Higher Education Act (hereinafter referred to as "regular academic background"), and each certificate (Korean translations shall be attached) relating to the academic background completed in a foreign educational institution corresponding to the domestic regular academic background. In such cases, an academic background, the certificate of which is required to be submitted shall be limited to the academic background which is stated or to be stated in the campaign materials of preliminary candidates provided for in Article 60-3 (1) 4, campaign promise collections of preliminary candidates provided for in Article 60-4, election posters provided for in Article 64, election campaign bulletins provided for in Article 65 (including the open data on candidates provided for in paragraph (9) of that Article), written campaign pledges provided for in Article 66 and on the website operated by the candidate;

7.

A report on past records of registration as a candidate in a presidential election, in a National Assembly election, in an election of local council members and the heads of local governments, or in an election of a member of an Education Committee or a superintendent of education [referring to the year in which an election was held, the name of election, the name of constituency, the name of the political party to which the candidate belonged (limited to the election in which the nomination of a candidate by a political party is permitted), and whether the candidate won or lost the election].

(5)

Anyone who files an application for the registration of a candidate may not submit documents submitted when he or she files an application for the registration of a preliminary candidate under Article 60-2 (2), notwithstanding paragraph (4): Provided, That where parts of such documents are changed, he or she shall add or supplement such documents until he or she files an application for the registration of a candidate. <Amended on Jan. 25, 2010>

(6)

No member of any political party shall register as an independent candidate, and shall not register as a candidate for the election concerned if seceding from the party, changing his or her membership, or holding two or more memberships at the same time during the candidate registration period (including the time of application for candidate registration). These provisions shall also apply to where he or she loses his or her party membership due to the dissolution of the party, the cancellation of registration, or the central party's revocation of its approval of the formation of a City/Do party. <Amended on Mar. 12, 2004>

(7)	Applications for candidate registration shall be accepted from 9:00 a.m. through to 6 p.m. each day, regardless of statutory holidays. <Amended on Jul. 28, 2011>

(8)

Upon receipt of an application for candidate registration, the competent constituency election commission shall immediately accept it, but shall not accept an application for registration when the written application for registration, a letter of nomination from the political party and the candidate's acceptance letter, letters of recommendation of eligible voters, election deposits, and the documents under paragraph (4) 2 through 5 are not attached, or when the ratio and order of female candidates nominated under Article 47 (3) are violated: Provided, That even though the documents attesting to a candidate's eligibility for election are not attached, the competent constituency election commission shall accept the application of such candidate, but then investigate the facts thereof, and the agencies or organizations which receive a request for such investigation shall verify the fact thereof without delay and make a reply to the competent constituency election commission. <Amended on Feb. 16, 2000; Mar. 7, 2002; Mar. 12, 2004; Aug. 4, 2005; Oct. 4, 2006; Apr. 6, 2018; Jan. 14, 2020; Dec. 29, 2020>

(9)

Where the relevant public service ethics committee under Article 9 of the Public Service Ethics Act makes a request, the competent election commission of the election district shall send the relevant public service ethics committee a copy of a report on property subject to registration submitted by an elected candidate pursuant to paragraph (4) 2 within 15 days after such candidate is elected. <Amended on Dec. 24, 2015>

(10)

Any person who intends to become a candidate or any political party may request a criminal record check on the principal or any party member who intends to become a candidate from the head of the national police station, starting from 150 days before the date on which an election period commences, and the head of the national police station so requested shall make a reply without delay of such criminal record. In such cases, the replied criminal record shall be concurrently submitted at the time of candidate registration, and where such check on the candidate is deemed necessary, the competent constituency election commission may, request the criminal record check on such candidate from the chief of the public prosecutor's office having jurisdiction over the relevant constituency, without delay after the deadline of candidate registration, and the chief of the relevant public prosecutor's office shall without delay make a reply of whether such criminal record is genuine. <Amended on Mar. 7, 2002; Mar. 12, 2004; Aug. 4, 2005; Feb. 21, 2006; Jul. 28, 2011>

(11)	Any one may, during the election period, peruse the criminal records which are received by the competent constituency election commission under paragraph (10). <Added on Feb. 16, 2000>

(12)

The competent constituency election commission shall make available to the public the documents submitted or received under paragraphs (4) 2 through 7 and (10) so that constituents can be informed thereof: Provided, That such documents shall not be made available to the public after the election day. <Added on Mar. 7, 2002; Mar. 12, 2004; Feb. 13, 2014>

(13)	Deleted. <Aug. 4, 2005>

(14)	Deleted. <Aug. 4, 2005>

(15)

The application form for candidate registration, a form for letter of nomination for tax payment and declaration of default of taxes and the methods of offering documents that are submitted and delivered for public perusal and other necessary matters shall be prescribed by the National Election Commission Regulations. <Amended on Mar. 12, 2004; Aug. 4, 2005; Jan. 25, 2010>

[Title Amended on Jul. 28, 2011]

Article 50 (Prohibition from Canceling and Changing Nomination of Candidates)

(1)

The political party shall not cancel or change its nomination of a registered candidate once the candidate is registered, and shall not make an addition to or change the order in the roll of candidates for proportional representation members of the National Assembly (including the roll of candidates for proportional representation members of local councils; hereafter in this paragraph, the same shall apply): Provided, That where the registration becomes invalid due to a ground other than the resignation or death of the party-nominated candidate, the expulsion of him or her from the political party to which he or she belongs, or the central party's revocation of approval of a formation of City/Do party during he or she candidate registration period, an exception shall be made, but if any candidate is added to the roll of candidates for proportional representation members of the National Assembly, the order of such candidate shall come after those already registered. <Amended on Apr. 1, 1995; Feb. 16, 2000; Mar. 12, 2004; Aug. 4, 2005>

(2)	Every eligible voter shall not cancel or change his or her recommendation for any candidate. <Amended on Apr. 1, 1995; Aug. 4, 2005>

Article 51 (Supplementary Registration)

Where a party-nominated candidate for a presidential election dies during or after the candidate registration period, the candidate registration may be applied for as provided in Articles 47 and 49 no later than the fifth day from the close of the candidate registration period. <Amended on Feb. 16, 2000>

Article 52 (Nullification of Registration)

(1)	The registration of a candidate shall become null if any of the following events occurs after the candidate is registered: <Amended on Apr. 30, 1998; Feb. 16, 2000; Mar. 7, 2002; Mar. 12, 2004; Aug. 4, 2005; Oct. 4, 2006; Jan. 25, 2010; Jan. 17, 2014; Aug. 13, 2015; Apr. 6, 2018>

1.	The candidate is found to be ineligible for election;

2.

The nomination is found to have been made in excess of the fixed number to be elected by constituency, in violation of the main clause of Article 47 (1), the ratio and precedence of the nomination of female candidates provided for in paragraph (3) of that Article are found to have violated, or the number of recommending eligible voters provided for in Article 48 (2) is found to be insufficient;

3.	The candidate is found to have failed to submit the documents under Article 49 (4) 2 through 5;

4.	The candidate is found to have registered, in violation of Article 49 (6);

5.	The candidate is found to have registered, in violation of Article 53 (1) through (3) or (5);

6.

The party-nominated candidate secedes from the party, changes to another party, or is a member of two or more parties (including where he or she is a member of two or more parties at the time of candidate registration); the political party to which he or she belongs is dissolved or cancels its registration; or the central party revokes an approval of the formation of a City/Do party;

7.	An independent candidate becomes a member of a political party;

8.	The candidate is found to have registered, in violation of Article 57-2 (2) or 266 (2) and (3);

9.	A political party is found to have nominated persons who do not belong to the relevant political party or persons who are not eligible to become party members under Article 22 of the Political Parties Act;

10.	The candidate is found to be a person who is restrained from holding a public office under other statutes, or a person who is not eligible to become a candidate;

11.	A political party or a candidate is found to have failed to submit open data about the information of a candidate without any good cause, in violation of Article 65 (9).

(2)

Where any registration is found to have made in violation of Article 47 (5), the registration of a candidate for constituency members of the City/Do council and a candidate for constituency members of the autonomous Gu/Si/Gun council who are nominated by the political party in the relevant constituency for electing a member to the National Assembly shall become null: Provided, That this shall not apply where the sum of the number of candidates for constituency members of the City/Do council and the number of candidates for constituency members of the autonomous Gu/Si/Gun council who are nominated by the relevant political party in the area where female candidates need to be nominated under Article 47 (5) is fewer than the number (any fraction less than one shall be deemed one) equivalent to 50/100 of the sum of the fixed number of constituency members of the City/Do council and the fixed number of constituency members of the autonomous Gu/Si/Gun council and where the registration of a female candidate becomes null. <Added on Mar. 12, 2010>

(3)	Where a candidate has registered as a candidate for other constituencies in the same election or as a candidate for other elections, all his or her registrations shall become nullified. <Amended on Feb. 16, 2000>

(4)

Upon nullifying the registration of a candidate, the competent constituency election commission shall without delay notify the candidate and the party that has nominated the candidate of the fact and the specific reasons of such nullification. <Amended on Mar. 12, 2010; Jan. 14, 2020; Dec. 29, 2020>

[Title Amended on Aug. 13, 2015]

Article 53 (Candidacy of Public Officials)

(1)

Any of the following persons who intends to be a candidate shall resign his or her post 90 days before the election day: Provided, That the same shall not apply where any member of the National Assembly runs in a presidential election or a National Assembly election with his or her present post held, and where any local council member or the head of a local government runs in an election of the relevant local council members or the head of the relevant local government with his or her present post held: <Amended on Apr. 1, 1995; Dec. 30, 1995; Nov. 14, 1997; Apr. 30, 1998; Feb. 16, 2000; Mar. 7, 2002; Aug. 4, 2005; Jan. 25, 2010; Dec. 24, 2015; Dec. 29, 2020>

1.

A State public official provided for in Article 2 of the State Public Officials Act and a local public official provided for in Article 2 of the Local Public Officials Act: Provided, That the same shall not apply to a public official (excluding the one in political service) who is eligible to become a party member as provided for in the proviso of Article 22 (1) 1 of the Political Parties Act;

2.	A member of an election commission of each level or a member of an educational committee;

3.	A person who has the status of a public official as prescribed by other statutes or regulations;

4.	A full-time executive officer of an institution (including the Bank of Korea), at least 50/100 shares of which are owned by the Government, from among institutions falling under Article 4 (1) 3 of the Act on the Management of Public Institutions;

5.	A full-time executive officer of the cooperatives established under the Agricultural Cooperatives Act, the Fisheries Cooperatives Act, the Forestry Cooperatives Act, the Tobacco Producers Cooperatives Act, or the chairmen of their central organizations;

6.	A full-time executive officer of a local public corporation or local industrial complex provided for in Article 2 of the Local Public Enterprises Act;

7.	A private school teacher who is ineligible for a party membership as provided for in Article 22 (1) 2 of the Political Parties Act;

8.

A person who issues or manages newspapers and online newspapers defined in Article 2 of the Act on the Promotion of Newspapers, periodicals defined in Article 2 of the Act on Promotion of Periodicals, including Magazines, or a broadcasting business defined in Article 2 of the Broadcasting Act; and journalists prescribed by the National Election Commission Regulations who are engaged in the affairs of editing, producing, news gathering, writing, or media reporting as full-time employees of the aforesaid media;

9.

The representative of an organization (referring to the Society for a Better Tomorrow, the Saemaul Movement Council and the Korea Freedom Federation, and including City/Do organizations and Gu/Si/ Gun organizations thereof) invested or subsidized by the State or local governments as a national movement organization established under Special Acts.

(2)	In any of the following cases, a candidate shall resign his or her post no later than 30 days prior to the election day, notwithstanding the main clause of paragraph (1): <Added on Jan. 25, 2010; Aug. 13, 2015>

1.	When any one runs in an election of proportional representation members of the National Assembly or an election of proportional representation members of local councils;

2.	When any one runs in a special election;

3.	When any member of the National Assembly runs in an election of the head of a local government;

4.	When any local council member runs in an election of council members or the head of another local government.

(3)

When proportional representation members of the National Assembly run in special elections of constituency members of the National Assembly or when proportional representation members of local councils run in special elections of constituency members of the local councils of the relevant local governments, they shall resign their posts before they file an application for the registration of candidates, notwithstanding the proviso of paragraph (1). <Added on Jan. 25, 2010>

(4)

In the application of paragraphs (1) through (3), the relevant person shall be deemed to have resigned his or her office at the time the letter of his or her resignation is accepted by the head of the institution to which he or she belongs, or by the committee to which he or she belongs. <Amended on Jan. 25, 2010>

(5)

Notwithstanding paragraphs (1) and (2), where the head of a local government intends to run in an election of a constituency member of the National Assembly whose constituency is the same as or overlapping with his or her jurisdictional area, he or she shall resign from his or her post no later than 120 days before the election day: Provided, That this shall not apply to where the head of the relevant local government intends to run in an election of a constituency member of the National Assembly, which is held 90 days after the date on which his or her term of office expires, after the expiration of his or her term of office. <Amended on Feb. 16, 2000; Oct. 30, 2003; Jan. 25, 2010>

[Title Amended on Aug. 13, 2015]

[Paragraph (5) of this Article, which was determined to be unconstitutional by the Constitutional Court on Sep. 25, 2003, is amended by Act No. 6988, Oct. 30, 2003.]

Article 54 (Report on Resignation of Candidates)

A candidate shall, in case where he or she intends to resign, come in person to the competent constituency election commission and report such resignation in writing, but in case where a party-nominated candidate intends to resign, he or she shall submit his or her resignation letter along with a letter of approval on resignation from the political party which nominated him or her.

Article 55 (Public Announcement of Candidate Registration)

Where a candidate is registered, resigns his or her office or dies, or his or her registration becomes nullified, the constituency election commission concerned shall publicly announce the public thereof without delay, make report to its superior election commission, and notify its subordinate election commission thereof.

Article 56 (Election Deposits)

(1)

A person who applies for candidate registration shall pay an election deposit referred to in the following subparagraphs per candidate to the competent constituency election commission at the time of the application for registration, as prescribed by the National Election Commission Regulations. In such cases, when a preliminary candidate applies for candidate registration in the relevant constituency, which is the same as that of the relevant election, he or she shall pay the amount remaining after excluding the election deposit paid under Article 60-2 (2): <Amended on Nov. 14, 1997; Feb. 16, 2000; Oct. 8, 2001; Mar. 7, 2002; Jan. 25, 2010; Jan. 17, 2012; Mar. 25, 2020>

1.	300 million won, in cases of a presidential election;

2.	15 million won, in cases of an election of constituency members of the National Assembly;

2-2.	5 million won, in cases of an election of proportional representation members of the National Assembly;

3.	3 million won, in cases of an election of City/Do council members;

4.	50 million won, in cases of an election of Mayors/Do Governors;

5.	10 million won, in cases of an election of the heads of autonomous Gus/Sis/Guns;

6.	2 million won, in cases of an election of autonomous Gu/Si/Gun council members.

(2)	No election deposit provided in paragraph (1) shall be subject to disposition on delinquency or compulsory execution.

(3)	Administrative fines provided in Article 261 and the expenses for any vicarious execution against illegal facilities provided in Article 271 shall be borne from an election deposit under paragraph (1) (including an election deposit under Article 60-2 (2)). <Amended on Jan. 25, 2010>

[Paragraph (1) of this Article, which was found to be inconsistent with the Constitution by the Constitutional Court on Dec. 29, 2016, is amended by Act No. 17127 on Mar. 25, 2020]

Article 57 (Return of Election Deposits)

(1)

The competent constituency election commission shall return the amount classified in the following subparagraphs to the depositor within 30 days after the election day. In such cases, an election deposit which is not returned shall revert to the State or local governments: <Amended on Mar. 12, 2004; Aug. 4, 2005; Jan. 25, 2010; Mar. 25, 2020>

1.	A presidential election, an election of constituency members of the National Assembly, an election of constituency members of local councils and an election of the heads of local governments:

(a)	Whole amount of the election deposit where the relevant candidate has been elected or has deceased or where he or she has obtained 15/100 or more of the gross number of valid votes;

(b)	Amount equivalent to 50/100 of the election deposit where the relevant candidate has obtained not less than 10/100 but less than 15/100 of the gross number of valid votes;

(c)

Whole amount of the election deposit paid under Article 60-2 (2) where the relevant preliminary candidate has deceased or where he or she is not registered as a candidate due to the failure to receive the nomination of the political party to which he or she belongs although he or she applied for nomination as candidates with the political party in accordance with the party constitution or rules;

2.	In cases of the election of the proportional representative National Assembly members and the election of the proportional representative local council members:

Whole amount of the deposit when there exists any elected person from among those listed in the relevant roll of candidates: Provided, That the deposit paid by a candidate, who resigns from his or her post before any person is elected, or whose registration is canceled under Articles 189 and 190-2, shall be excluded.

(2)

Expenses to be borne with an election deposit under Article 56 (3) shall be deducted when the election deposit is returned under paragraph (1), and any one, for whom expenses to be borne exceed the election deposit to be returned, shall pay the difference to the constituency election commission and any one, for whom the whole amount of the election deposit reverts to the State or local governments, shall pay the whole amount of expenses to be borne to the constituency election commission, within 10 days from the date on which he or she receives a notification, pursuant to the notification of the relevant constituency election commission. <Amended on Jan. 25, 2010>

(3)

When the relevant person fails to pay the relevant amount within the deadline for payment under paragraph (2), the competent constituency election commission shall entrust the collection of such amount to the head of the competent tax office; and the head of the competent tax office shall collect it in the same manner as delinquent national taxes are collected, and then shall pay the collected amount to the State or the relevant local governments. In such cases, the relevant election commission may entrust the head of the competent tax office with the collection of expenses for any vicarious execution against illegal facilities, etc. under Article 271, after preferentially disbursing such expenses. <Added on Jan. 25, 2010>

(4)	Deleted. <Feb. 16, 2000>

(5)	The return and reversion of election deposits and other necessary matters shall be prescribed by the National Election Commission Regulations. <Amended on Feb. 16, 2000>

[Paragraph (1) 1 (c) of this Article, which is found not in conformity with the Constitution by the Constitutional Court on January 25, 2018, is amended by Act No. 17127, Mar. 25, 2020]

Article 57-2 (Primary Elections to Nominate Candidates)

(1)	Every political party may nominate candidates through primary elections (hereinafter referred to as "primary elections") to run in elections for public offices.

(2)

Where any political party holds a primary election [including any poll instead of a primary election, which is conducted on a person who is listed as a candidate in a primary election (including where extra points, etc. are granted to women, persons with disabilities, etc. in accordance with the party’s constitution or regulations (hereinafter referred to as "candidate in a primary election") according to the party's constitution, regulations or a written agreement that is reached among candidates in a primary election], any candidate in a primary election who fails to be elected as a candidate of the relevant political party shall be prohibited from being registered as a candidate to run in the relevant election of the same constituency: Provided, That the same shall not apply to cases where anyone who is elected as a candidate is disqualified after he or she renounces his or her candidacy, dies, loses his or her eligibility for election or gives up or changes his or her party affiliation. <Amended on Apr. 6, 2018>

(3)	Anyone who is disqualified as a member of any political party according to Article 22 of the Political Parties Act shall be prohibited from becoming an eligible voter in the primary election.

[This Article Added on Aug. 4, 2005]

Article 57-3 (Primary Election Campaigns)

(1)

In a primary election that is held by party members with non-party members granted rights by the relevant political party to vote in such primary election, the competition campaign shall not be waged in ways other than that falling under any of the following subparagraphs: <Amended on Feb. 29, 2008; Feb. 29, 2012>

1.	The way provided for in Article 60-3 (1) 1 or 2;

2.	The way by which campaign material of one kind, which are prepared by any candidate in a primary election (hereafter in this Article referred to as "primary election campaign materials"), are distributed only once;

3.

The way (including the way in which a candidate in a primary election installs and posts facilities, such as placard, necessary for the publicity of the candidate in a primary election at a place where speeches or debates are held as prescribed by the National Election Commission Regulations) by which political parties hold joint stump speeches or joint debates indoors.

(2)	When any political party distributes primary election campaign materials and holds joint stump speeches or joint debates in the ways referred to in paragraph (1) 2 or 3, the political party shall make a report thereon to the competent constituency election commission.

(3)	Expenses incurred in waging any primary election campaign, in violation of paragraph (1) shall be deemed election expenses provided for in Article 119.

(4)	The preparation of primary election campaign materials referred to in paragraph (1) 2, the report referred to in paragraph (2) and other necessary matters shall be determined by the National Election Commission Regulations.

[This Article Added on Aug. 4, 2005]

Article 57-4 (Entrustment of Primary Election Management)

(1)

Political parties eligible for the distribution of subsidies according to Article 27 of the Political Funds Act may entrust management involving the primary election campaign, the voting and the vote counting from among their primary election management to the competent constituency election commission in charge of the relevant election.

(2)

Where the competent constituency election commission conducts management involving the voting and vote counting of the primary election according to the entrustment referred to in paragraph (1), expenses incurred therein shall be borne by the State: Provided, That allowances paid to voting observers and counting observers shall be borne by the relevant political parties. <Amended on Feb. 29, 2008>

(3)	Where political parties entrust their primary election management pursuant to paragraph (1), specific procedures and necessary matters shall be determined by the National Election Commission Regulations.

[This Article Added on Aug. 4, 2005]

Article 57-5 (Prohibition from Buying Party Members)

(1)

No one shall offer any money and goods, property interests or private or public post, or expressing the intention of offering any of them to any elector in a primary election (referring to a person who is entered in the official list of electors in the primary election) or his or her spouse, lineal ascendant or descendant with the aim of helping him or her win his or her candidacy or preventing him or her from wining the candidacy in the primary election, irrespective of the former's pretext: Provided, That the same shall not apply to any customary act that is prescribed by the National Election Commission Regulations.

(2)

No one shall perform the act of offering the benefits, etc. referred to in paragraph (1) to any candidate (including anyone who intends to become a candidate; hereafter in this paragraph, the same shall apply) with the aim of preventing him or her from becoming a candidate in the primary election or getting him or her to renounce his or her candidacy and every candidate shall not accept the offer of any benefits and any post or approve the intention of offering such benefits and such post.

(3)	No one shall direct, induce or coerce to perform the act referred to in paragraphs (1) and (2).

[This Article Added on Aug. 4, 2005]

Article 57-6 (Prohibition against Primary Election Campaigns by Public Officials)

(1)

No one, who is not allowed to carry out an election campaign under Article 60 (1), may conduct a primary election campaign: Provided, That this shall not apply to cases where any one eligible to be a party member in a primary election, in which only affiliated party members can participate, conducts a campaign.

(2)	No public official may conduct a primary election campaign using his or her status.

[This Article Added on Jan. 25, 2010]

[Previous Article 57-6 moved to Article 57-7 <Jan. 25, 2010>]

[Simple unconstitutionality, 2019Heon-Ga11, April 29, 2021: parts concerning “full-time employees of □□ industrial complex in Gwangju Metropolitan City, a local industrial complex provided for in Article 2 of the Local Public Enterprises Act, as prescribed in Article 60 (1) 5 and Article 53 (1) 6“ in the main clause of Article 57-6 (1) of the Public Official Election Act (as amended by Act No. 9974 on January 25, 2010) and parts falling under Article 255 (1) 1 of that Act are contrary to the Constitution.]

Article 57-7 (Raising of Objection to Entrustment of Primary Elections)

Where any political party entrusts the holding of its primary election pursuant to Article 57-4, any objection to the effects of the primary election and selection shall be raised to the relevant political party. <Amended on Jan. 25, 2010>

[This Article Added on Aug. 4, 2005]

[Moved from Article 57-6 <Jan. 25, 2010>]

Article 57-8 (Provision of Virtual Phone Numbers for Primary Elections)

(1)

Where a political party that has seats in the National Assembly falls under any of the following cases, it may request a mobile network operator in writing (hereinafter referred to as "written request for providing virtual phone numbers") to provide numbers created to prevent mobile phone numbers of users from being exposed (hereinafter referred to as "virtual phone numbers") via the competent election commission: <Amended on Feb. 8, 2017>

1.	Where it recruits people who intend to be electors in a primary election under Article 57-2 (1) or conducts public opinion polls for the primary election;

2.	Other cases where it is necessary to collect public opinions for activities of the political party.

(2)

A political party shall submit a written request for providing virtual phone numbers to the competent election commission within the following periods; and the competent election commission shall send the relevant written request to a mobile network operator within three days from the date it receives the relevant written request after examining the indication in the relevant written request: <Amended on Feb. 8, 2017>

1.	A primary election referred to in paragraph (1) 1: By no later than 23 days before the election day of the relevant primary election;

2.	Collection of public opinion referred to in paragraph (1) 2: By no later than 10 days before the date of commencement of the period of the collection of the relevant public opinion.

(3)	Where a political party makes a request under paragraph (1), it shall mention the following matters in a written request for providing virtual phone numbers: <Amended on Feb. 8, 2017>

1.	A primary election referred to in paragraph (1) 1:

(a)	Name of the election and the name of the election district of the primary election;

(b)	Election day of the primary election;

(c)	Region where the primary election is held and the number of electors in the primary election (where a public opinion poll is conducted for the primary election, referring to a specimen; hereafter in this paragraph the same shall apply);

(d)

The number of virtual phone numbers each mobile network operator should provide for each gender, age and region. In such cases, the total number of virtual phone numbers each political party may request each mobile network operator to provide shall not exceed 30 times the number of electors in the primary election under item (c);

(e)	Other matters prescribed by the National Election Commission Regulations.

2.	Collection of public opinion referred to in paragraph (1) 2:

(a)	Purpose, content and period of the collection of public opinion;

(b)	Region intended for the collection of public opinion and the number of people intended for the collection of public opinion;

(c)

The number of virtual phone numbers each mobile network operator should provide for each gender, age and region. In such cases, the total number of virtual phone numbers each political party may request each mobile network operator to provide shall not exceed 30 times the number of electors in the primary election under item (b);

(d)	Other matters prescribed by the National Election Commission Regulations.

(4)

Where the indications prescribed in paragraph (3) are omitted from a written request for providing virtual phone numbers submitted to the competent election commission or it deems additional data are required to make an examination, the competent election commission may request the relevant political party to complement the written request for providing virtual phone numbers or submit data; and the political party upon receipt of such request shall comply therewith the without delay. <Amended on Feb. 8, 2017>

(5)

Where a mobile network operator receives a request under paragraph (1), it shall provide virtual phone numbers to the relevant political party via the competent election commission within seven days from the date it receives such request after creating virtual phone numbers and establishing the period of validity in accordance with the written request for providing virtual phone numbers: Provided, That where the number of virtual phone numbers it may provide is less than that it should provide due to a shortage, etc. in the number of users, the mobile network operator shall without delay notify the competent election commission, and the competent election commission may adjust the number of virtual phone numbers it should provide in consultation with the relevant political party, as prescribed by the National Election Commission Regulations. <Amended on Feb. 8, 2017>

(6)

A mobile network operator shall notify users of the fact that their mobile phone numbers are provided to a political party as virtual phone numbers for the primary election of the political party or the collection, etc. of public opinion and that they may refuse the provision thereof. <Amended on Feb. 8, 2017>

(7)	Where a mobile network operator (including its representative and staff members) provides virtual phone numbers pursuant to paragraph (5), it shall not perform any of the following acts: <Amended on Feb. 8, 2017>

1.

Providing virtual phone numbers without establishing the period of the validity thereof, or providing virtual phone numbers after establishing the period of the validity thereof exceeding the period from the date virtual phone numbers are provided to the election day of the primary election (where a public opinion poll for the primary election is conducted, referring to the period of such public opinion poll) or the period of the collection of public opinion;

2.	Providing virtual phone numbers in excess of the number of virtual phone numbers requested;

3.	Providing information other than information about virtual phone numbers, genders, ages, and residing areas of users. In such cases, the range of information about ages and residing areas shall be prescribed by the National Election Commission Regulations;

4.	Providing virtual phone numbers to a person other than a political party that makes a request for providing virtual phone numbers;

5.	Providing virtual phone numbers of users who have explicitly expressed their intention of refusal after receiving a notification under paragraph (6);

6.	Creating and providing virtual phone numbers which are advantageous or disadvantageous to a specific political party or a person who intends to be a candidate in order to have an influence on the results of a public opinion poll.

(8)	A political party may provide virtual phone numbers with which it has been provided pursuant to paragraph (5) to polling institutions or organizations in order to conduct public opinion polls or collect public opinion under paragraph (1). <Amended on Feb. 8, 2017>

(9)

No political party (including its representative and members) or polling institution or organization (including its representative and members) which has been provided with virtual phone numbers pursuant to main clause of paragraph (5) or paragraph (8) shall perform any of the following acts: <Amended on Feb. 8, 2017>

1.	Using virtual phone numbers with which it has been provided for purposes other than the purpose of conducting a public opinion poll or collecting public opinion under paragraph (1);

2.	Providing virtual phone numbers with which it has been provided to any other persons.

(10)	Any person who has been provided with virtual phone numbers (including its representative and members) shall immediately abolish virtual phone numbers whose period of validity expires. <Amended on Feb. 8, 2017>

(11)

Expenses incurred by a mobile network operator in creating and providing virtual phone numbers pursuant to paragraph (5) shall be borne by the relevant political party which makes a request for providing virtual phone numbers. In such cases, the mobile network operator shall charge the minimum expenses incurred in creating and providing virtual phone numbers. <Amended on Feb. 8, 2017>

(12)	No person shall file an objection to the results or the effect of the primary election or the results of the collection of public opinion with a mobile network operator that has provided virtual phone numbers. <Amended on Feb. 8, 2017>

(13)

Methods and procedures for requesting the provision of virtual phone numbers, the establishment of the period of validity of virtual phone numbers, a form of a written request for providing virtual phone numbers, the competent election commission, and other necessary matters shall be prescribed by the National Election Commission Regulations. <Amended on Feb. 8, 2017>

[This Article Added on Jan. 15, 2016]

[Title Amended on Feb. 8, 2017]

Article 58 (Definition)

(1)	For the purpose of this Act, the term "election campaign" means an act for winning an election, or for making another person be or not be elected: Provided, That none of the following acts shall be deemed an election campaign: <Amended on Feb. 16, 2000; Feb. 29, 2012; Aug. 13, 2013; Mar. 25, 2020>

1.	A simple statement of opinion or manifestation of an intention on the election;

2.	An act of preparing candidacy and election campaign;

3.	A simple statement of opinion on support for, or opposition to the nomination of candidates by political parties, or manifestation of an intention thereof;

4.	Ordinary political party activities;

5.	Deleted; <May 14, 2014>

6.	Sending a text message (including emoticons, voices pictures, video clips, etc.; hereinafter the same shall apply) as courtesy greetings on a holiday such as Lunar New Year’s Day or Chuseok (Korean Thanksgiving Day), Buddha’s Birthday, Christmas Day, etc.

(2)	Any person may freely canvass for an election. However, this shall not apply where such canvassing is prohibited or restricted by this Act or other statutes.

Article 58-2 (Soliciting to Participate in Voting)

Any person may solicit others to participate in voting: Provided, That the same shall not apply to any of the following acts:

1.	Making a house-to-house visit;

2.	Soliciting others to participate in voting within a distance of 100 meters from an early voting polling station or polling station;

3.	Including any content that supports, recommends or opposes a specific political party or candidate (including a person who intends to become a candidate; hereinafter the same shall apply in this Article);

4.

Using facilities like placard, printed materials, a loudspeaker or audio or video recorder (including video or audio equipment), shoulder belts, labels, or other marks (limited to where the name of a political party or the name or photograph of a candidate is presented or any content that can be inferred about the name of a political party or candidate is presented.).

[This Article Added on May 14, 2014]

Article 59 (Period for Election Campaign)

An election campaign may be allowed during the period from the commencing date of election period to the day before the election day: Provided, That the same shall not apply to any of the following cases: <Amended on Mar. 12, 2004; Aug. 4, 2005; Jul. 28, 2011; Feb. 29, 2012; Feb. 8, 2017; Dec. 29, 2020>

1.	Where any preliminary candidate, etc. wages the election campaign pursuant to Article 60-3 (1) and (2);

2.

Where a person works on an election campaign by sending text messages. In such cases, the persons who are permitted to send such messages by means of automatic broadcast communications (referring to means by which text messages are sent by automatically selecting recipients using a program even where the number of persons intended to receive messages at the same time exceeds 20 or the number of such persons is not more than 20; hereinafter the same shall apply) shall be limited to candidates and preliminary candidates, but the number of times such messages may be sent shall not exceed eight times (including the number of times a candidate sent such messages when he or she was a preliminary candidate), and only one telephone number reported in accordance with the National Election Commission Regulations shall be used;

3.

Where a person works on an election campaign by posting a writing or video clip on an internet web-site or its bulletin board or chatting room or sending an e-mail (referring to a communication system with which computer users exchange information in the form of text, voice, images, or video clips through a network; hereinafter the same shall apply). In such cases, persons who are permitted to send e-mails by entrusting the dispatch of e-mails to an agency shall be limited to candidates and preliminary candidates.

4.

Where an election campaign is conducted by telephone (limited to direct telephone conversations between a caller and a receiver, excluding telephones equipped with automatic transmission devices using computers) or by words (excluding cases using a loudspeaker system or targeting the general public at an outdoor assembly) when it is not an election day;

5.

Where a person who intends to become a candidate gives his or her name card by means referred to in Article 60-3 (1) 2 (including the proviso of that subparagraph) during the period from 180 days before the election day (in cases of a presidential election, referring to 240 days before the election day) to the date of application for the registration of preliminary candidate for the relevant election.

[Title Amended on Jul. 28, 2011]

Article 60 (Persons Barred from Election Campaign)

(1)

None of the following persons shall engage in an election campaign: Provided, That this shall not apply where a person referred to in subparagraph 1 is the spouse of a preliminary candidate or candidate, or where a person referred to in any of subparagraphs 4 through 8 is the spouse of a preliminary candidate or candidate or a lineal ascendant or descendant of a candidate: <Amended on Dec. 30, 1995; Jan. 13, 1997; Feb. 16, 2000; Mar. 7, 2002; Mar. 12, 2004; Aug. 4, 2005; Jan. 25, 2010; Jan. 17, 2012; Feb. 29, 2012; Jan. 17, 2014; May 29, 2016; Jan. 14, 2020; Mar. 25, 2020; Dec. 29, 2020>

1.	A person who is not a national of the Republic of Korea: Provided, That this shall not apply where a foreigner specified in Article 15 (2) 3 engages in a campaign for the relevant election;

2.	A minor (referring to a person under 18 years of age; hereinafter the same shall apply);

3.	A disfranchised person as provided for in Article 18 (1);

4.

A State public official as provided for in Article 2 of the State Public Officials Act and a local public official as provided for in Article 2 of the Local Public Officials Act: Provided, That this shall not apply to a person who is eligible to become a member of a political party (excluding a public official in political service other than members of the National Assembly or local councils) provided for in the proviso of Article 22 (1) 1 of the Political Parties Act;

5.	A person who falls under Article 53 (1) 2 through 7 (including a full-time employee in cases falling under subparagraphs 5 and 6);

6.	A company commander, or a higher-ranking officer of the reserve forces;

7.

The head of a Tong/Ri/Ban, and the members of a residents' self-governing committee (referring to the committee set up by competent district of the Eup/Myeon/Dong offices by municipal ordinances for the purpose of operating the residents' self-governing center; hereinafter the same shall apply) which is established in the self-governing center of Eup/Myeon/Dong residents (collectively calling various facilities for culture, welfare and convenience set up by the municipal ordinance as a part of conversion of the function of Eup/Myeon/Dong offices, regardless of their names; hereinafter the same shall apply);

8.

A full-time executive officer or employee of an organization which is a national movement organization established pursuant to special Acts and which the State or each local government has invested in or subsidized (referring to the Society for a Better Tomorrow, the Saemaul Movement Council, or the Korea Freedom Federation), and the representatives of these organizations, etc. (including City/Do organizations and Gu/Si/Gun organizations);

9.	The master of the ship which a seafarer who has filed a shipboard voting report is.

(2)

If a member of an election commission at any level, a company commander or a higher-ranking officer of the reserve forces, a member of a residents' self-governing committee, or the head of a Tong/Ri/Ban intends to serve as an election campaign manager, chief of an election liaison office, an election campaign worker, an assistant under Article 62 (4), an accountant in charge, an election campaign speechmaker, an interviewer, a debater, a voting observer, or an early voting observer, he or she shall resign from his or her office at least 90 days before the election day (in cases of a special election where the reason to hold the election becomes definite after 90 days prior to the election day, within five days from the time when the reason to hold the election becomes definite); and shall not be reinstated to his or her former office within six months after the election day (until the election day in cases of a member of a residents' self-governing committee). In such cases, Article 53 (4) shall apply mutatis mutandis with respect to the time a person is deemed to resign from his or her office. <Amended on Mar. 7, 2002; Feb. 29, 2008; Jan. 25, 2010; Jul. 28, 2011; Jan. 17, 2012; Jan. 17, 2014; May 29, 2016>

[Title Amended on Jul. 28, 2011]

[Paragraph (1) 5 of this Article, which is found unconstitutional by the Constitutional Court on June 30, 2016, is amended by Act No. 17813 on December 29, 2020]

[Paragraph (1) 5 of this Article, which is found unconstitutional by the Constitutional Court on February 22, 2018, is amended by Act No. 17127 on March 25, 2020]

Article 60-2 (Registration of Preliminary Candidates)

(1)

A person who intends to become a preliminary candidate (excluding an election of proportional representation members of the National Assembly and an election of proportional representation members of local councils) shall file, in writing, an application for the registration of preliminary candidate with the competent constituency election commission from any of the following days (in special elections which the reasons for holding have become definite after any of the following days, the time when the reasons for holding the said election have become definite): <Amended on Aug. 4, 2005; Jan. 25, 2010>

1.	A presidential election:

240 days before the election day;

2.	The election of the National Assembly members of local constituency and the election of the Mayor/Do Governor:

120 days before the election day;

3.	The election of City/Do council members in a local constituency and the election of council members or head of a local constituency of autonomous Gu/Si:

90 days before the date an election period commences;

4.	The election of council members or head of a local constituency in Gun:

60 days before the date an election period commences.

(2)

A person who applies for the registration of a preliminary candidate under paragraph (1) shall submit the following documents and pay amounts equivalent to 20/100 of the election deposit of the relevant election falling under each subparagraph of Article 56 (1) to the competent constituency election commission as an election deposit, as prescribed by the National Election Commission Regulations: <Added on Jan. 25, 2010>

1.	Evidentiary documents concerning eligibility for election, which are determined by the National Election Commission Regulations;

2.	Evidentiary documents concerning criminal records;

3.	Certificates concerning academic background under Article 49 (4) 6 (Korean translations shall be attached).

(3)

The election commission in receipt of an application for registration under paragraph (1) shall accept it without delay; but may not accept an application for registration, which is not accompanied by evidentiary documents concerning the election deposit and criminal records under paragraph (2). In such cases, the election commission shall accept an application for registration, when evidentiary documents concerning eligibility for election are not accompanied, but for the preliminary candidate for whom it is deemed a verification is necessary with regard to eligibility for election, the said commission may call on the head of related agency to inquire into the necessary matters; and the head of the relevant agency in receipt of such inquiry shall investigate the relevant matters and make a reply thereto without delay. <Amended on Jan. 25, 2010>

(4)	When any of the following reason exists after a registration of preliminary candidate, the registration of the said preliminary candidate shall be invalid: <Amended on Aug. 4, 2005; Jan. 25, 2010>

1.	When it is found that he or she is not eligible for election;

1-2.	When it is found that he or she has failed to submit evidentiary documents concerning criminal records under paragraph (2) 2;

2.	When it is found that he or she corresponds to the person who is incapable of standing as a candidate with holding his or her post under Article 53 (1) through (3) or (5);

3.	When it is found that he or she corresponds to the person who is incapable of becoming a candidate under the main clause of Article 57-2 (2) or Article 266 (2) and (3);

4.	When it is found that he or she corresponds to the person who is prohibited from exercising a right to hold a public office or the person who is not eligible to be a candidate under other statutes.

(5)	Article 52 (3) shall apply mutatis mutandis to the registration of preliminary candidates. In such cases, "candidate" shall be deemed "preliminary candidate." <Amended on Mar. 12, 2010>

(6)	When a preliminary candidate intends to resign, he or she shall directly file in writing a report thereon with the relevant constituency election commission. <Amended on Jan. 25, 2010>

(7)

A person who registers himself or herself as a candidate pursuant to Article 49 shall be deemed concurrently a preliminary candidate by the date prior to the commencing date of the election period. In such cases, election campaigns shall follow the practice of a preliminary candidate. <Added on Aug. 4, 2005; Jan. 25, 2010; Jul. 28, 2011>

(8)

With regard to checking criminal records of a preliminary candidate and a bulletin, Article 49 (10) shall apply mutatis mutandis. In such cases, "150 days before the date an election period commences" shall be deemed "150 days (referring to 60 days before the date an application for the registration of a preliminary candidate commences, in cases of a presidential election) before the date an election period commences." <Added on Jan. 25, 2010>

(9)

A constituency election commission in receipt of an application for registration under paragraph (1) may inquire, of the relevant political party, whether the applicant holds membership therein, as prescribed by the National Election Commission Regulations; and the political party in receipt of such request shall confirm it and send reply to the relevant constituency election commission without delay. <Added on Aug. 13, 2015>

(10)

A competent constituency election commission shall make available to the public the documents submitted or received under paragraphs (2) 2 and 3 and (8) so that constituents can be informed thereof: Provided, That such documents shall not be made available to the public from and after the date application for the registration of candidates commences (excluding where they are made available to the public under Article 49 (12)). <Added on Aug. 13, 2015>

(11)	Where a preliminary candidate fails to register himself or herself as a candidate pursuant to Article 49, he or she shall lose the status of the preliminary candidate from the closing time of registration on the closing date of the registration of candidates. <Added on Mar. 9, 2017>

(12)

An application form for registration as preliminary candidate, evidential documents relating to eligibility for election, methods of disclosing documents submitted or received, and other necessary matters shall be stipulated by the National Election Commission Regulations. <Amended on Jan. 25, 2010; Aug. 13, 2015; Mar. 9, 2017>

[This Article Added on Mar. 12, 2004]

Article 60-3 (Election Campaigns by Preliminary Candidates)

(1)	Any preliminary candidate may wage an election campaign in any of the following manners: <Amended on Aug. 4, 2005; Feb. 29, 2008; Jan. 25, 2010; Jul. 28, 2011; Jan. 17, 2012; Feb. 8, 2017; Dec. 29, 2020>

1.	Establishing an election campaign office under Article 61 (1) and the proviso of Article 61 (6), or installing or posting the signboards, tablets or hanging placards at the said election campaign office;

2.

Personally handing out the name cards of not more than nine centimeters long nor more than five centimeters wide, which include his or her own name, photograph, telephone number, academic background (referring to the regular academic background and the academic background completed in a foreign educational course equivalent thereto; hereafter in subparagraph 4, the same shall apply), career and other matters necessary for publicity or appealing for support from voters: Provided, That the same shall not apply to the act of offering such name cards to the voters or appealing for support from them in a ship, regular passenger vehicle, train, electric locomotive, airplane, and in a terminal and station and behind airport turnstiles, and in a hospital, or religious facility and within the premise of a theater (excluding cases where the relevant facility is used for purposes other than originally intended, such as rental);

3.	Deleted; <Feb. 29, 2012>

4.

Sending by mail as stipulated by the National Election Commission Regulations by three days before the commencing date of election period, after producing the printed matters carrying his or her photograph, name, telephone number, academic background, career and other matters necessary for publicity (hereinafter referred to as "campaign materials of preliminary candidate") within a number equivalent to 10/100 of the number of households located within the constituency and obtaining a confirmation on the objects for forwarding and number of sheets, etc. from the competent election commission. In such cases, the preliminary candidates for the presidential election and for the election of heads of local governments shall publish the campaign pledges and the goal, priority order, execution procedures, term of execution and plans for raising funds for each project as a promotion plan therefor on the pages of 50/100 or more of the total pages, including the cover page; and the matters concerning other political parties or persons who intend to be a candidate shall not be inserted on the pages on which the aforesaid matters are inserted;

5.	Wearing shoulder belts or marks indicating a preliminary candidate for conducting an election campaign;

6.	Deleted; <Dec. 29, 2020>

7.	Deleted. <Feb. 29, 2012>

(2)	Any of the following persons may hand out name cards of a preliminary candidate or appeal for support from voters under paragraph (1) 2, in order to conduct an election campaign for a preliminary candidate: <Amended on Jan. 25, 2010; Feb. 8, 2017; Apr. 6, 2018>

1.	Spouse (if there is no spouse, one candidate designated by a preliminary candidate) and lineal ascendants or descendants of a preliminary candidate;

2.	Election campaign manager or election campaign workers who accompany a preliminary candidate or assistants under Article 62 (4);

3.	One person designated by a preliminary candidate from among persons accompanying the preliminary candidate.

(3)

Any preliminary candidate who intends to mail the campaign materials of preliminary candidate pursuant to paragraph (1) 4 may file an application with the head of each Gu/Si/Gun for the delivery of the names and addresses of householders (hereafter in this Article referred to as "roll of householders") who are eligible voters within the scope of the number of mails and the head of each Gu/Si/Gun shall, upon receiving the application, prepare and deliver without delay the roll of householders, notwithstanding the provisions of other statutes. <Added on Aug. 4, 2005; Feb. 29, 2008>

(4)

The application for the delivery of the roll of householders provided for in paragraph (3) shall be filed in writing within five days before the candidate registration period commences and expenses incurred in preparing the roll of householders shall be paid when the application is filed. <Added on Aug. 4, 2005>

(5)	Article 46 (4) shall apply mutatis mutandis to the prohibition against transferring, lending, and using the roll of householders issued under paragraph (3). In such cases, "official list" shall be deemed "roll of householders." <Added on Aug. 4, 2005; Jan. 17, 2014>

(6)

The specification, number of pages and indication of grounds, etc. for drawing up campaign materials of preliminary candidate and the standards of shoulder belts or marks, the application for the delivery of roll of householders, the payment of expenses and other necessary matters shall be determined by the National Election Commission Regulations. <Added on Aug. 4, 2005; Feb. 29, 2008; Jan. 25, 2010>

[This Article Added on Mar. 12, 2004]

[Title Amended on Aug. 4, 2005]

[Paragraph (2) 3 of this Article, which was determined unconstitutional by the Constitutional Court on November 28, 2013 was amended by Act No. 14556, Feb. 8, 2017.]

Article 60-4 (Collection of Campaign Pledges of Preliminary Candidate)

(1)

The preliminary candidates for the presidential election and the election of the head of a local government may publish and distribute one kind of campaign collection of pledges (referring to one published in the form of book; hereinafter referred to as "campaign promise collection of preliminary candidate") describing campaign promises and the goals, priority order, execution procedures, term of execution and plan for raising funds for each project as a promotion plan therefor, and when he or she intends to distribute it he or she shall sell it by an ordinary method: Provided, That it shall not be sold by door-to-door sales method.

(2)

In addition to the campaign promises and the matters on a promotion plan therefor, in cases where the preliminary candidate in paragraph (1) inserts his or her photograph, name, academic background (refers to the ordinary academic background and the academic background completed in a foreign educational course equivalent thereto), career and other matters necessary for publicity in the campaign promise collection of preliminary candidate, the number of pages on which aforesaid matters are inserted shall not exceed 10/100 of the total number of pages, including the front cover, and the matters concerning other political parties or a person who intends to be a candidate shall not be inserted in the campaign promise collection of preliminary candidate.

(3)	When a preliminary candidate intends to publish and sell the campaign promise collection of preliminary candidate pursuant to paragraph (1), he or she shall immediately submit two copies thereof to the competent constituency election commission on publication.

(4)	The indication of grounds, etc. for drawing up and submission of the campaign promise collection of preliminary candidate, and other necessary matters shall be prescribed by the National Election Commission Regulations.

[This Article Added on Feb. 29, 2008]

Article 61 (Establishment of Election Campaign Organizations)

(1)

In order to conduct election campaigns and other affairs concerning an election, a political party or candidate may establish an election campaign office and election campaign liaison office, a preliminary candidate may establish an election campaign office, and a political party may establish election campaign organizations, respectively in the office of its central party and in the office of each of its City/Do parties, in accordance with the following: <Amended on Apr. 1, 1995; May 10, 1995; Feb. 16, 2000; Mar. 12, 2004; Aug. 4, 2005; Jan. 17, 2014>

1.	For a presidential election:

The political party or candidate may establish one election campaign office, and an election campaign liaison office in each City/Do and Gu/Si/Gun (referring to the constituency for electing a member to the National Assembly, where one Gu/Si/Gun consists of two or more constituencies for electing members to the National Assembly; hereafter in this Article, the same shall apply);

2.	For an election of constituency members of the National Assembly:

The candidate may establish one election campaign office in the relevant constituency for electing a member to the National Assembly: Provided, That where one constituency for electing a member to the National Assembly consists of two or more Gu/Si/Gun, an election campaign liaison office may be established in each Gu/Si/Gun where the election campaign office is not located;

3.	For the election of a proportional representative National Assembly member and a proportional representative local council member:

The political party may establish one election campaign office (one election campaign office in each City/Do that submits the roll of the candidates for the proportional representative City/Do council members in cases of the election of the proportional representative City/Do council members, and one election campaign office in each autonomous Gu/Si/Gun that submits the roll of candidates for the proportional representative autonomous Gu/Si/Gun council members in cases of the election of the proportional representative autonomous Gu/Si/Gun council members);

4.	For an election of constituency members of local councils:

The candidate may establish one election campaign office in the relevant constituency;

5.	For an election of Mayors/Do Governors:

The candidate may establish one election campaign office in the relevant City/Do, and one election campaign liaison office in each Gu/Si/Gun within the relevant City/Do;

6.	For an election of the heads of autonomous Gus/Sis/Guns:

The candidate may establish one election campaign office in the relevant autonomous Gu/Si/Gun: Provided, That in a Si where non-autonomous Gus are established, an election campaign liaison office may be established in each Gu where the election campaign office is not located, and where one Gu/Si/Gun consists of two or more constituencies for electing members to the National Assembly, an election campaign liaison office may be established in each constituency for electing a member to the National Assembly where the election campaign office is not located.

(2)

Where the seat of the City/Do or Gu/Si/Gun office is located in a district of another City/Do or Gu/Si/Gun, the election campaign office or election campaign liaison office may be established in the district of the City/Do or Gu/Si/Gun having jurisdiction over the seat of the City/Do or Gu/Si/Gun office, notwithstanding paragraph (1).

(3)

The election campaign office or the election campaign liaison office of a political party, party-nominated candidate, or a preliminary candidate belonging to a political party may, when there exists an office of the political party (including the political party's election campaign office under Article 61-2) corresponding thereto, be established in that office. <Amended on Mar. 12, 2004>

(4)	When a preliminary candidate has completed a registration of candidate pursuant to Article 49, the election campaign office of the relevant preliminary candidate shall be deemed the election campaign office of the candidate. <Added on Mar. 12, 2004>

(5)

The election campaign office and election campaign liaison office shall be established in a fixed place or facilities, but shall not be established in a food entertainment business office under the Food Sanitation Act, or a public hygiene business office under the Public Health Control Act. <Amended on Feb. 16, 2000; Aug. 4, 2005>

(6)

Signboards, tablets, and placards for election campaigns, election posters under Article 64, campaign bulletins under Article 65, written campaign promises under Article 66 and photographs of candidates may be erected or posted at each election campaign office, election campaign liaison office, or election campaign organization in accordance with the National Election Commission Regulations: Provided, That only signboards, tablets, and placards may be erected or posted at the election campaign office of a preliminary candidate. <Amended on Jan. 25, 2010; Jan. 17, 2014>

(7)

When a preliminary candidate has been disqualified, he or she shall close an election campaign office established under paragraph (1), and where he or she has failed to close it, the constituency election commission shall order the relevant preliminary candidate to immediately close the election campaign office. <Added on Mar. 12, 2004>

Article 61-2 (Establishment of Political Party's Election Campaign Office)

(1)

A political party may establish the political party's election campaign office at one place for each Gu/Si/Gun located within the election district (where one Gu/Si/Gun consists of two or more constituencies for electing members to the National Assembly, the constituency for electing a member to the National Assembly) from the days that are set in any of the following subparagraphs (in the special elections which the reasons for holding have become definite after the day falling under any of the following subparagraphs, the time when the reasons for holding the said election have become definite) to 30 days after the election day, in order to deal the election affairs of political party in the relevant election: <Amended on Aug. 4, 2005>

1.	The presidential election:

240 days before the election day;

2.	Election of National Assembly members or Mayors/Do Governors:

120 days before the election day;

3.	An election of local council members and an election of the heads of autonomous Gus/Sis/Guns:

60 days before the day when the election period commences.

(2)	In a political party's election campaign office, one head of the office shall be appointed from among the party members, nor more than two office staff members on the payroll may be placed.

(3)

When the representative of the central party or City/Do party establishes a political party's election campaign office, he or she shall without delay file in writing the following matters with the competent election commission. In such cases, if any change exists in the reported matters, he or she shall without delay file a report on the changed matters: <Amended on Aug. 4, 2005>

1.	Date of establishment;

2.	Location and title of the office;

3.	Name, address and resident registration number of the head of office;

4.	Seal of the office.

(4)	In the political party's election campaign office, the signboards, tablets or hanging placards that state the matters necessary for the political party's publicity may be installed or posted, as prescribed by the National Election Commission Regulations. <Amended on Jan. 25, 2010>

(5)	The head of a political party's election campaign office shall represent the relevant political party in any declaration, application, submission, report, nomination, etc. under the provisions of this Act or other statutes.

(6)	When 30 days have elapsed after the election day, a political party shall immediately close its election campaign office under paragraph (1).

(7)

Article 61 (2) and (5) shall apply mutatis mutandis to the political party's election campaign office. In such cases, "election campaign office or election campaign liaison office" and "election campaign office and election campaign liaison office" shall be deemed "political party's election campaign office".

[This Article Added on Mar. 12, 2004]

Article 62 (Appointment of Persons in Charge of Election Campaign Affairs)

(1)

A person who has established an election campaign office and an election campaign liaison office provided for in Article 61 shall appoint one manager of the election campaign office and one chief of the election campaign liaison office, from among those who are eligible to engage in an election campaign.

(2)

In order to attend to the election campaign affairs, the manager of an election campaign office or the chief of an election campaign liaison office may appoint election campaign workers (referring to those who are paid allowances and actual expenses provided in the main clause of Article 135 (1); hereinafter, the same shall apply) from among those who are eligible to engage in an election campaign, as provided in the following: <Amended on Apr. 1, 1995; Dec. 30, 1995; Jan. 13, 1997; Apr. 30, 1998; Feb. 16, 2000; Aug. 4, 2005; Jan. 25, 2010; Jan. 21, 2022>

1.

For a presidential election: Not more than six times the number of Cities/Dos in the election campaign office; not more than the number of Gus/Sis/Guns (referring to a local constituency for electing a member to the National Assembly, where one Gu/Si/Gun consists of two or more local constituencies for electing members to the National Assembly; hereafter in this paragraph, the same shall apply) of the relevant City/Do (10 persons, where the number of Gus/Sis/Guns is fewer than 10) in the City/Do election campaign liaison office; not more than the number of Eups/Myeons/Dongs (in cases falling under Article 148 (1) 2, referring to Eups/Myeons/Dongs right before the establishment, abolition, division, or merger; hereafter in this Article, and Articles 67 (1), 118 (5), and 121 (1), the same shall apply) of the relevant Gu/Si/Gun in the Gu/Si/Gun election campaign liaison office;

2.	For an election of constituency members of the National Assembly and the heads of autonomous Gus/Sis/Guns:

Not more than three times the number of Eups/Myeons/Dongs in the Gu/Si/Gun, where the election campaign office and election campaign liaison office are established, plus five persons (where the election campaign liaison office is not established, the number of election campaign workers at the election campaign office may be increased by the number of election campaign workers who could have worked at the election campaign liaison office); 3. An election of proportional representation members of the National Assembly:

3.	For an election of proportional representation members of the National Assembly:

Not more than two times the number of Cities/Dos in the election campaign office;

4.	For an election of constituency members of City/Do councils:

Not more than 10 persons in the election campaign office;

5.	For an election of proportional representation members of City/Do councils:

Not more than the number (20 persons, where the calculated number is under 20) of Gus/Sis/Guns in the relevant City/Do in the election campaign office;

6.	For an election of Mayors/Do Governors:

Not more than the number of Gus/Sis/Guns in the relevant City/Do (10 persons, where the number of the relevant Gus/Sis/Guns is fewer than 10) in the election campaign office; the number of Eups/Myeons/Dongs in the relevant Gu/Si/Gun in the election campaign liaison office;

7.	For an election of constituency members of autonomous Gu/Si/Gun councils:

Not more than eight persons in the election campaign office;

8.	For an election of proportional representation members of autonomous Gu/Si/Gun councils:

Not more than the number of persons equivalent to the number of Eups/Myeons/Dongs of the autonomous Gu/Si/Gun in the election campaign office.

(3)	A preliminary candidate may have election campaign workers, including an election campaign manager under paragraph (1), the number of whom is set according to the following, from among the persons entitled to wage the election campaign: <Added on Mar. 12, 2004; Aug. 4, 2005; Jan. 25, 2010>

1.	The presidential election:

Not more than 10 persons;

2.	An election of Mayors/Do Governors:

Not more than five persons;

3.	An election of constituency members of the National Assembly and an election of the heads of autonomous Gus/Sis/Guns:

Not more than three persons;

4.	An election of constituency members of local councils:

Not more than two persons.

(4)

Any preliminary candidate with a disability or candidate with a disability determined by the National Election Commission Regulations may have an assistant (hereinafter referred to as "assistant"), from among persons who may conduct an election campaign to assist such candidate. In such cases, no assistant shall be included in the number of election campaign workers under paragraphs (2) and (3). <Added on Jan. 25, 2010>

(5)

A salaried staff member of a political party who cannot be paid the allowance under the proviso of Article 135 (1), a member of the National Assembly, his or her assistant, his or her chief secretary, his or her secretary, or a local council member, even when becoming an election campaign worker, shall not be counted in the number of the election campaign workers as provided for in paragraph (2). <Amended on Feb. 16, 2000>

(6)

Where the election campaign manager is not appointed, a candidate (in the cases falling under paragraph (2) 1, 3, 5 and 8, an accountant in charge of a political party) or a preliminary candidate shall be deemed to hold the post of an election campaign manager concurrently. <Amended on Mar. 12, 2004; Aug. 4, 2005>

(7)	In the same election, two or more political parties, preliminary candidates or candidates shall not jointly appoint the same person as the election campaign manager, chief of the election campaign liaison office, or election campaign workers. <Amended on Apr. 1, 1995; Mar. 12, 2004; Jan. 25, 2010>

(8)	No one shall recruit a person who is to engage in an election campaign, using printed material, facilities, or other advertising material by methods which are not prescribed in this Act: <Amended on Jan. 25, 2010>

Article 63 (Report on Election Campaign Organizations and Election Affairs-Related Persons)

(1)

A political party, candidate or preliminary candidate shall, upon establishing or changing the election campaign office or election campaign liaison office, report without delay, in writing, to the competent election commission; the political party, candidate, preliminary candidate, election campaign manager or chief of the election campaign liaison office shall, upon appointing or dismissing an election campaign manager, chief of the election campaign liaison office, election campaign worker or assistant (hereafter in this Article referred to as "election campaign manager, etc."), report in writing, without delay, to the competent election commission. In such cases, the number of the replaceable election campaign workers may not exceed twice the number of election campaign workers provided in Article 62 (2) or (3), including those initially appointed. <Amended on Mar. 12, 2004; Jan. 25, 2010>

(2)	Any election campaign manager, etc. (including accountants in charge) shall conduct an election campaign, wearing marks delivered by the relevant election commission. <Amended on Jan. 15, 2010>

(3)	An election commission shall, upon receiving an application for issuance of marks under paragraph (2), immediately issue it. <Amended on Jan. 15, 2010>

(4)

The report form for establishment of an election campaign office and election campaign liaison office, and for the appointment of the election campaign manager, etc. marks of election campaign managers, etc. (including accountants in charge), procedures to be taken when marks are lost and other necessary matters shall be prescribed by the National Election Commission Regulations. <Amended on Jan. 15, 2010>

Article 64 (Campaign Posters)

(1)

A campaign poster to be used for an election campaign shall include a photograph (referring to the photograph of a candidate alone), name and mark (referring to the indication of an order by which a political party or a candidate is entered on the ballot paper to be printed under Article 150; hereinafter the same shall apply) of a candidate, the name of the political party to which the party-nominated candidate belongs (an independent candidate shall be indicated as "independent"), his or her career [where an academic background is entered, the regular academic backgrounds and the academic backgrounds completed in a foreign educational course equivalent thereto, shall be entered therein: in such cases, if the regular academic background is entered, the name of school at the time of graduation or completion (in cases of leaving school in mid-course, the period of study shall be entered together) shall be entered therein, and when academic background completed in a foreign educational course equivalent thereto is entered, the name of curriculum, the period of study, and the title of the acquired degree when a degree was acquired shall be entered therein, and the final regular academic background and the academic background completed in a foreign educational course may be entered therein on condition that a certificate of academic background is submitted under Article 49 (4) 6; hereinafter the same shall apply] and political views, the platform and policy of the political party to which he or she belongs, and other matters necessary for publicity (in cases of an election of constituency members of the National Assembly, the roll of candidates for proportional representation members of the National Assembly shall be included, in cases of an election of constituency members of City/Do councils, the roll of candidates for proportional representation members of City/Do councils and in cases of an election of constituency members of autonomous Gu/Si/Gun councils, the roll of candidates for proportional representation members of autonomous Gu/Si/Gun councils shall be included, and other figure photos than the candidate shall be excluded), and it shall be prepared and pasted at the rate of one sheet for a population of 500 in Dong, one sheet for a population of 250 in Eup, and one sheet for a population of 100 in Myeon: Provided, That it may be adjusted to the rate of one sheet for a population of 1,000 as prescribed by the National Election Commission Regulations, in consideration of population density, pasting places, etc. <Amended on Apr. 1, 1995; Dec. 30, 1995; Jan. 13, 1997; Nov. 14, 1997; Apr. 30, 1998; Feb. 16, 2000; Mar. 7, 2002; Mar. 12, 2004; Aug. 4, 2005; Jan. 25, 2010>

(2)

Campaign posters as provided for in paragraph (1) shall be prepared by the candidate (excluding any candidate for proportional representation members of the National Assembly and proportional representation members of local councils and in cases of a party-nominated candidate to run in a presidential election, referring to the political party that nominates him or her; hereafter in this Article, the same shall apply), and submitted to the Gu/Si/Gun election commission having jurisdiction over the area in which they are pasted not later than three days after the closing date of candidate registration with regard to a presidential election (in cases of an additional registration under Article 51, it refers to two days after the closing date of additional registration), and not later than five days after the closing date of candidate registration with regard to a National Assembly election and an election of local council members and the heads of local governments, and the relevant Gu/Si/Gun election commission shall confirm and paste such campaign posters no later than two days (three days, in cases of the presidential election or the islands or the remote and secluded areas in the mountains) after the closing date of submission of campaign posters. In such cases, if some of campaign posters are not submitted, the area where the campaign posters are not to be pasted (making a voting district as a unit) shall be designated and reported in writing when campaign posters are submitted, and if the area wherein no campaign posters are to be pasted is not reported, the relevant Gu/Si/Gun election commission shall designate such area. <Amended on Apr. 1, 1995; Feb. 16, 2000; Aug. 4, 2005; Jan. 25, 2010; Jul. 28, 2011; Jan. 17, 2012>

(3)

The competent constituency election commission shall publicly announce the quantity of campaign posters to be prepared, kept or submitted by the candidate under paragraph (2) not later than 10 days prior to the commencing date of election period. In such cases, a specified quantity may be added as prescribed by the National Election Commission Regulations. <Amended on Dec. 30, 1995; Mar. 12, 2004; Jan. 25, 2010>

(4)	The campaign posters, if not submitted by the closing date of the submission period under paragraph (2) or if larger or smaller than the standard, shall not be pasted. <Amended on Jan. 25, 2010>

(5)

The campaign posters submitted under paragraph (2) shall not be corrected or withdrawn: Provided, That a candidate may request for the correction or deletion of parts of campaign posters in writing to the relevant constituency election commission, on the grounds that any false information exists on the name or mark of a candidate, political party to which a candidate belongs, career, academic background, academic degrees, rewards or punishments (hereinafter referred to as "career, etc.") in campaign posters or that contents violating this Act are included in campaign posters, and the constituency election commission, upon receiving such requests, may allow such candidate to correct or delete the relevant parts within a deadline for submitting campaign posters under paragraph (2). In such cases, no new information shall be added, other than the correction or deletion of the relevant parts, and there should be no changes in the existing arrangement methods, colors and standards, etc. <Amended on Jan. 25, 2010>

(6)

When any one intends to raise an objection against any false information on career, etc. in campaign posters, he or she shall raise such objection in writing to the next higher election commission via the relevant constituency election commission, and the higher election commission may, upon receiving the objection, request a candidate and a person, who has raised an objection, to present evidentiary documents, and when such documents are not presented or turn out to be false, the commission shall publicly announce such fact. <Added on Jan. 25, 2010>

(7)

Where the slanders on the private life of another candidate, his or her spouse, his or her lineal ascendant or descendant, or sibling contained in a campaign poster under paragraph (1) are deemed to be in violation of this Act, the competent constituency election commission shall file a complaint against the facts thereof and publicly announce them. <Amended on Jan. 25, 2010>

(8)	A printer who prints campaign posters shall provide any one with the campaign posters printed in excess of the quantity under paragraph (3). <Amended on Jan. 25, 2010>

(9)

A candidate shall, in case where he or she intends to make a supplementary pasting as the campaign posters pasted by the competent Gu/Si/Gun election commission are spoiled or damaged, paste the new ones over the old ones, within the limit of publicly announced quantity under paragraph (3). <Amended on Dec. 30, 1995; Jan. 25, 2010>

(10)	Campaign posters shall be pasted on a building, bulletin board, or the like that can be easily noticed by many passersby. In such cases, the owner or manager of the relevant building, bulletin board, or the like shall be consulted in advance. <Added on Dec. 29, 2020>

(11)

Where the campaign poster is pasted under paragraph (1), the owner or manager of the land, building or other facilities on which the campaign poster is pasted shall cooperate in the pasting of such a campaign poster, unless there is a compelling reason not to do so. <Amended on Jan. 25, 2010; Dec. 29, 2020>

(12)

Any application for correction or deletion of details of campaign posters, public notification of the quantity, standard, preparation, submission, confirmation, and pasting of the posters, and the public notice of an objection filed against a falsity of career, etc. or a slander on the private life of a candidate, and other necessary matters shall be prescribed by Regulations of the National Election Commission. <Amended on Feb. 16, 2000; Jan. 25, 2010; Dec. 29, 2020>

[Title Amended on Jan. 25, 2010]

Article 65 (Election Campaign Bulletins)

(1)

Every candidate (referring to a candidate who is nominated by a political party in a presidential election and a political party that nominates its candidates in an election of proportional representation members of the National Assembly or an election of proportional representation members of local councils; hereafter in this Article, the same shall apply) may prepare booklet-type election campaign bulletins of one kind (including leaflet-type election campaign bulletins of one kind in a presidential election). In such cases, an election campaign bulletin for an election of proportional representation members of the National Assembly or an election of proportional representation members of local councils shall contain the photograph, name, academic background, and career of each candidate nominated by each political party, as prescribed by the National Election Commission Regulations. <Amended on Jan. 25, 2010; Jan. 17, 2012>

(2)

The booklet-type election campaign bulletins referred to in paragraph (1) shall be printed in not more than 16 sheets for a presidential election, in not more than 12 sheets for a National Assembly election and an election of the heads of local governments, and in not more than eight sheets for an election of local council members, respectively and the leaflet-type election campaign bulletins shall be printed in one sheet (both sides may be printed).

(3)

) The number of booklet-type election campaign bulletins provided for in paragraph (1) shall not exceed the aggregate of the number of households in the relevant constituency, the estimated number of persons who are expected to file a home voting report, and the estimated number of applicants under paragraph (5), while the number of leaflet-type election campaign bulletins shall not exceed the number of the households in the relevant constituency. <Amended on Feb. 29, 2012; Jan. 17, 2014>

(4)

Any candidate may prepare election campaign bulletins of one kind (hereinafter referred to as "election campaign bulletins in braille") for eligible voters with visual impairments (referring to persons with visual impairments who are registered pursuant to Article 32 of the Act on Welfare of Persons with Disabilities; hereafter in this Article, the same shall apply) within two times of the number of pages of booklet-type election campaign bulletins under paragraph (2), other than the election campaign bulletins referred to in paragraph (1): Provided, That a candidate running in a presidential election, an election of constituency members of the National Assembly, or an election of the heads of local governments shall prepare and submit election campaign bulletins in braille; however, such election campaign bulletins may be substituted by print-ready barcodes whose contents are converted into voice or braille output. <Amended on Feb. 29, 2008; Jan. 25, 2010; Aug. 13, 2015; Apr. 6, 2018; Dec. 29, 2020>

(5)

A military person or police officer who stays in a military base or military ship for a long term according to statutes or regulations, among eligible voters who can vote at an early voting polling station, may request the competent Gu/Si/Gun election commission in writing or through the web-site of the National Election Commission to send booklet-type election campaign bulletins to his or her place of residence during the period for preparation of the official list of eligible voters. In such cases, the relevant base commander or the chief of the relevant police agency shall inform the military persons or police officers under his or her control of the fact that they may request the election campaign bulletins to be sent to their place of residence by the day before the commencement of the period for preparation of the official list of eligible voters. <Added on Jan. 17, 2014; Aug. 13, 2015>

(6)	The election campaign bulletins shall be submitted and distributed in any of the following manners: <Amended on Jan. 25, 2010; Jul. 28, 2011; Jan. 17, 2012; Jan. 17, 2014>

1.	A presidential election:

(a)	Booklet-type election campaign bulletins (including election campaign bulletins in braille):

Every candidate shall submit his or her booklet-type election campaign bulletins to the Gu/Si/Gun election commission having jurisdiction over the constituency, in which they are to be distributed, not later than six days after the deadline for the registration of candidates (in cases of additional registration under Article 51, not later than two days after the deadline for the additional registration), and the competent election commission shall inspect them and dispatch them by mail to each household in the constituency under its jurisdiction within three days after the deadline for the submission and shall also dispatch them by mail to the electors listed on the electoral register for reported abode voters along with an abode ballot paper in accordance with Article 154;

(b)	Leaflet-type election campaign bulletins:

Every candidate shall submit his or her leaflet-type election campaign bulletins to the Gu/Si/Gun election commission having jurisdiction over the constituency, in which they are to be distributed, by not later than 10 days after the deadline for the registration of candidates, and the competent election commission shall inspect them and dispatch them by mail to each household in the constituency under its jurisdiction along with voting guidance leaflets referred to in Article 153. If any household is found to have not received booklet-type election campaign bulletins after the finalization of the electoral register, the competent election commission shall dispatch both booklet-type election bulletins and leaflet-type election bulletins to the household;

2.	An election of National Assembly members or an election of local government council members or the heads of local governments:

Every candidate shall submit his or her election campaign bulletins to the Gu/Si/Gun election commission having jurisdiction over the constituency, in which such bulletins are to be distributed, not later than seven days after the deadline for the registration of candidates, and the competent election commission shall inspect such bulletins and shall dispatch them by mail to persons requesting to dispatch the bulletins in accordance with paragraph (5), not later than 10 days before the election day, and also dispatch them to each household, along with the voting guidance leaflets referred to in Article 153, and to each elector listed on the electoral register of reported abode voters, along with an abode ballot paper under Article 154, respectively.

(7)

The head of a Gu/Si/Gun shall take a census of eligible voters with visual impairments referred to in paragraph (4) and the names and addresses of their householders, and inform the competent Gu/Si/Gun election commission of the results of the census not later than 20 days before the commencement date of the relevant election period.

(8)

Where the booklet-type election campaign bulletins are submitted for a presidential election or an election of constituency members of the National Assembly, constituency members of local councils, or the heads of local governments, the following contents (hereafter in this Article referred to as "open data on candidates") shall be published in the second page of such booklet-type election campaign bulletins, as prescribed by the National Election Commission Regulations, and supporting documents concerning matters that require explanation about the open data on candidates may be published along with such supporting documents. In such cases, the second page shall contain only open data on candidates and supporting documents therefor, and the contents of the open data on candidates in election campaign bulletins in braille shall be identical with contents published in the booklet-type election campaign bulletins: <Amended on Mar. 2, 2006; Jan. 25, 2010; Jul. 28, 2011; Jan. 17, 2014>

1.	Total amount of property:

The total amount of property owned respectively by the candidate, his or her spouse, lineal ascendants and descendants (excluding his or her married daughters, maternal grandfather and grandmother and daughters' children; hereafter in subparagraph 3, the same shall apply);

2.	Military service:

2.	Military service: The ranks, the service period, the area of service, matters concerning disposition for military service of the candidate and his lineal descendant;

The ranks, the service periods, the area of service by the military branch, matters concerning the military service disposition and the grounds of the military service disposition of the candidate and his or her lineal descendant (excluding where the name of disease or the details of mental or physical disabilities are requested not to be disclosed pursuant to Article 8 (3) of the Act on the Report and Disclosure of Military Service Records of Public Servants, Etc.);

3.	The payment and default records of the income tax, the property tax and the global real estate tax for the latest five years:

The amount of payment by year and the amount of default by year (excluding the default of not more than 100,000 won or for not more than three months) and the time of the payment in full (including the payment records of income tax withheld at source, the certificate of which is submitted pursuant to Article 49 (4) 4 but excluding the payment or default records of the lineal ascendant of the candidate who refuses to submit relevant certificates) of the candidate, his or her spouse and his or her lineal ascendant or descendant;

4.	The criminal record:

The name of crime, the punishment thereof and the confirmation date;

5.	Personal information, such as occupation, academic background and career:

Matters entered in the application form for candidate registration.

(9)

When a candidate fails to submit all or part of the booklet-type election campaign bulletins publicly announced under paragraph (13), he or she shall separately prepare open data on the candidate and submit them by not later than a deadline for the submission of the booklet-type election campaign bulletins pursuant to paragraph (6), and the open data on the candidate that have been received shall be sent along with the booklet-type election campaign bulletins when they are sent pursuant to paragraph (5). In such cases, when the candidate fails to submit all or part of the open data on the candidate not later than a deadline due to good cause, he or she may submit such data before the booklet-type election campaign bulletins are delivered. <Amended on Jan. 25, 2010; Jan. 17, 2014; Aug. 13, 2015; Dec. 29, 2020>

(10)

Notwithstanding paragraph (1), the election commission having jurisdiction over a constituency may require each candidate to submit the manuscript of his or her booklet-type election campaign bulletins stored in a magnetic computer disk or any similar medium in accordance with the forms provided by the election commission or to enter such manuscript in the web-site designated by the election commission at the time the candidate files an application for the registration of his or her candidacy pursuant to Article 49 and then prepare and dispatch the election campaign bulletins of all candidates in one book in the order of the marks of candidates, which are to be entered in ballot papers under Article 150, (such as the order of priority in listing political parties or candidates on ballot papers). In such cases, expenses incurred in printing the election campaign bulletins shall be borne by candidates. <Amended on Feb. 29, 2008; Jan. 17, 2014>

(11)

. Where a candidate submits storage media that contain digital files with which the details of election campaign bulletins are delivered in an audio or braille format, together with booklet-type election campaign bulletins (including election campaign bulletins in braille), the Gu/Si/Gun election commission having jurisdiction over the areas where the election campaign bulletins are to be distributed shall send the storage media together with the booklets. <Added on Dec. 29, 2020>

(12)

When open data on a candidate are not included in the booklet-type election campaign bulletins (excluding election campaign bulletins in braille; hereafter in this paragraph the same shall apply), in violation of paragraph (8), when the open data on a candidate are included in a page, other than the second page of the booklet-type election campaign bulletins, (excluding where open data on a candidate are included in the second page and the third page in a row, due to the lack of a space in the second page), when contents, other than the open data on a candidate and materials for explanation, are included in the second page, or when the standards and a deadline for the submission of election campaign bulletins are violated, the competent Gu/Si/Gun election commission shall not accept such data. <Added on Jan. 25, 2010; Jan. 17, 2014; Dec. 29, 2020>

(13)

Article 64 (2) (latter part) through (8) shall apply mutatis mutandis to the election campaign bulletins. In such cases, "campaign posters" shall be deemed "election campaign bulletins", "constituency therein the posters are required not to be pasted", shall be deemed "persons to whom or the constituency to which the election campaign bulletins are not required to be delivered", "posting" shall be deemed "delivery", "exceeding or falling short of the standards" shall be deemed "exceeding the standards" and "career, academic background, degree or reward and punishment (hereinafter referred to as the "career, etc.")" shall be deemed "career, etc. or open data on candidates", respectively. <Amended on Jan. 25, 2010; Jan. 17, 2014; Dec. 29, 2020>

(14)

The specifications, preparation, submission, confirmation, delivery, and publication of the election campaign bulletins, the application form for the dispatch of booklet-type election campaign bulletins, methods for disclosing data on candidates to the public, the manuscript of the election campaign bulletins, the calculation and payment of printing expenses, and other necessary matters shall be prescribed by the National Election Commission Regulations. <Amended on Feb. 29, 2008; Jan. 25, 2010; Jan. 17, 2014; Dec. 29, 2020>

[This Article Wholly Amended on Aug. 4, 2005]

Article 66 (Written Campaign Promises)

(1)

Every candidate (referring to a political party that nominates its candidate in cases of a candidate nominated by a political party in a presidential election; hereafter in this Article except for paragraphs (2) and (5), the same shall apply) who runs in a presidential election and for an election of the heads of local governments may prepare one kind of printed matter (hereinafter referred to as "written campaign promises") in which campaign promises and a promotion plan therefor are entered in order to wage campaign. <Amended on Feb. 29, 2008>

(2)

The written campaign promises shall state the campaign promises, the goals, priority order, execution procedures, term of execution and plan for raising fund for each project as a promotion plan therefor, however, shall not state the matters concerning other political parties or candidates. In such cases, the photograph, academic background, and career of the candidate and other matters necessary for publicity in addition to the name and mark of the candidate, his or her campaign promises and the matters concerning the promotion plan therefor may be inserted in not more than one sheet, out of the sheets under paragraph (3). <Amended on Feb. 29, 2008; Jan. 17, 2012>

(3)	The written campaign promises shall be stated on 32 sheets or less for presidential elections, on 16 sheets or less for elections of Mayors/Do Governors, and on 12 sheets or less for elections of the heads of autonomous Gus/Sis/Guns. <Amended on Feb. 29, 2008>

(4)	The number of written campaign promises shall not exceed 10/100 of the number of households in the relevant constituency. <Amended on Feb. 29, 2008>

(5)

Any candidate, his or her family members, election manager, head of election liaison office, election workers, chief accountant and assistants accompanying a candidate may distribute the written campaign promises: Provided, That as for the methods of distributing written campaign promises by mailing (excluding election campaign promises in braille), door-to-door visit or scattering (including a method of keeping in a specific place), they are prohibited. <Amended on Feb. 29, 2008; Jan. 25, 2010>

(6)

When a candidate intends to distribute written campaign promises, he or she shall report the quantity of the written campaign promises, expenses incurred in printing the written campaign promises and ways to distribute them, etc. to the competent constituency election commission with two copies of the written campaign promises, and submit two copies of the written campaign promises respectively to the Gu/Si/Gun election commission having the jurisdiction over the area in which they are distributed by no later than the time they are distributed. <Amended on Feb. 29, 2008>

(7)

The competent constituency election commission may open to the public written campaign promises by posting them on the website of the election commission, etc. so that constituents may obtain knowledge thereof, and may post the written campaign promises of the elected candidate on the website of the election commission or on the website designated by the National Election Commission after the elected candidate is decided. In such cases, the competent constituency election commission may require each of the candidates to submit the copy of his or her electronic data or to submit a summary of such electronic data. <Amended on Feb. 29, 2008>

(8)

The provisions of Articles 64 (3) and (8) and 65 (4) (excluding the proviso) shall apply mutatis mutandis to the written campaign promises. In such cases, "campaign posters" or "booklet-type election campaign bulletins" shall be deemed "campaign promises", "preparation, keeping and submission" shall be deemed "preparation" and "election campaign bulletins in braille" shall be deemed "election campaign promises in braille", respectively, and campaign promises in braille shall be deemed same kind as the written campaign promises. <Amended on Jan. 25, 2010; Aug. 13, 2015>

(9)	The specifications and the indication of the grounds of their preparation, etc. of the written campaign promises, the report thereon, their submission and other necessary matters shall be prescribed by the National Election Commission Regulations.

[This Article Added on Jan. 3, 2007]

Article 67 (Hanging Banner)

(1)

Every candidate (excluding any candidate for proportional representation members of the National Assembly and any candidate for proportional representation members of local councils and in cases of a party-nominated candidate in a presidential election, referring to a political party that nominates him or her as a presidential candidate) may display hanging banners not more than twice the number of Eups/Myeons/Dongs in the relevant constituency in order to wage his or her election campaign. <Amended on Aug. 4, 2005; Apr. 6, 2018>

(2)	Deleted. <Aug. 4, 2005>

(3)	Matters necessary for the size and hanging methods of banners under paragraph (1) shall be prescribed by the National Election Commission Regulations.

[This Article Added on Mar. 7, 2002]

Article 68 (Props Including Shoulder Belts)

(1)

Every candidate, his or her spouse (including one person who is reported by the candidate instead of his or her spouse from among his or her lineal ascendants or descendants), every election campaign manager, every chief of the election campaign liaison office, every election campaign worker, every assistant accompanying a candidate and every accountant in charge may wage the election campaign, wearing or carrying shoulder belts, in which the photograph, name, mark, the name of a political party to which a candidate belongs and other matters necessary for public relations are printed, or jackets, labels, signaling flags, mascots and other props within standards and amounts determined by the National Election Commission Regulations, during the period of an election campaign.

(2)	No one may conduct an election campaign by using shoulder belts, hats and clothes with the same shape and color, labels, signaling flags, mascots, props and other marks during the period of an election campaign, other than cases under paragraph (1).

(3)	The standards of shoulder belts under paragraph (1) and other necessary matters shall be determined by the National Election Commission Regulations.

[This Article Wholly Amended on Jan. 25, 2010]

Article 69 (Newspaper Advertisements)

(1)

Any candidate (referring to a party-nominated candidate in a presidential election and a political party that nominates its candidates in an election of proportional representation members of the National Assembly; hereafter in this Article, the same shall apply) may run an advertisement of the platform or policy of the political party to which the candidate belongs, the candidate's political views, political fund-raising (limited to presidential elections), and other matters necessary for the publicity in a daily newspaper provided for in subparagraph 1 (a) or (b) of Article 2 of the Act on the Promotion of Newspapers from the commencement date of an election period to two days before the election day, pursuant to the following. In such cases, one run of advertisements in a daily newspaper shall be deemed one instance of a newspaper advertisement in calculating the frequency of advertisements in the daily newspaper: <Amended on Nov. 14, 1997; Mar. 12, 2004; Aug. 4, 2005; Jul. 31, 2009>

1.	A presidential election:

Up to 70 times in total;

2.	An election of proportional representation members of the National Assembly:

Up to 20 times in total;

3.	Election of the Mayors/Do Governors:

Up to five times in total: Provided, That in a City/Do with a population of more than three million, one time shall be added for every one million persons exceeding three million persons.

(2)	Advertisements under paragraph (1) shall indicate grounds for advertisements and the names of advertisers. <Amended on Jan. 25, 2010>

(3)

Two or more candidates who are nominated by the same political party in an election of Mayors/Do Governors, may jointly run an advertisement. In such cases, each candidate shall be deemed to have run the advertisement once respectively, and the expenses for the advertisement shall be divided among the candidates according to their agreement, but the particulars about the division of expenses shall be specified in an advertisement contract. <Amended on Jan. 25, 2010>

(4)	Deleted. <Jan. 25, 2010>

(5)

A candidate, if intending to run an advertisement, shall do so after obtaining a letter of certification that the advertisement is in conformity with this Act from the competent constituency election commission, and anyone who operates or manages the daily newspaper or who is in charge of the advertisement affairs shall not insert an advertisement of the candidate when the letter of certification is not accompanied.

(6)	Deleted. <Jan. 25, 2010>

(7)	Deleted. <Feb. 16, 2000>

(8)

Any person operating or managing a daily newspaper in which an advertisement is inserted under paragraph (1), may not claim or collect advertisement fees against or from candidates in excess of the minimum fees of the commercial, cultural and other various advertisements inserted in the same size and on the same column during an election period, in calculating the expenses for such an advertisement. <Added on Apr. 30, 1998>

(9)	The forms of written certifications, indications of grounds for advertisements and other necessary matters shall be prescribed by the National Election Commission Regulations. <Amended on Jan. 25, 2010>

Article 70 (Broadcast Advertisements)

(1)

A candidate (referring to a party-nominated candidate in a presidential election and a political party that nominates its candidates in an election of proportional representation members of the National Assembly; hereafter in this Article, the same shall apply) may run an advertisement promoting a platform or policy of the political party to which he or she belongs, his or her political views, and other matters necessary for publicity using television or radio broadcasting facilities [referring to a radio station managed and operated by a broadcasting business operator under the Broadcasting Act and the composite cable broadcasting stations (including channels of the operators using broadcasting channels for general programming or specialized programming of news reports); hereafter in this Article, the same shall apply] during the election campaign period, pursuant to the following, but the advertising time shall not exceed one minute at a time. In such cases, the re-broadcasting shall be included in the calculation of the advertisement frequency, but a concurrent use of the relevant broadcasting networks with a selection of one television or radio broadcasting facility shall be deemed one time: <Amended on Jan. 13, 1997; Nov. 14, 1997; Apr. 30, 1998; Feb. 16, 2000; Mar. 12, 2004; Aug. 4, 2005; Jan. 25, 2010; Jan. 21, 2022>

1.	A presidential election:

Up to 30 times for television and radio broadcasts, respectively;

2.	An election of proportional representation members of the National Assembly:

Up to 15 times for television and radio broadcasts, respectively;

3.	An election of Mayor/Do Governor:

Up to five times for television and radio broadcasts by using local broadcasting facilities, respectively.

(2)	Deleted. <Feb. 16, 2000>

(3)	Each operator of the broadcasting facilities airing the advertisement according to paragraph (1) shall notify the competent constituency election commission of the date, time, contents, etc. of the broadcast advertisement as prescribed by the National Election Commission Regulations.

(4)	Article 73 (2) of the Broadcasting Act and Article 5 of the Act on Broadcast Advertising Sales Agencies, Etc. shall not apply to the broadcast advertisement provided for in paragraph (1). <Amended on Feb. 16, 2000; Aug. 4, 2005; Feb. 22, 2012>

(5)

Any person operating or managing broadcasting facilities shall treat all candidates equally in consideration of time bands of broadcast, broadcast areas, etc. in making broadcast advertisement under paragraph (1); where the date and time of use of broadcasting facilities for which candidates apply overlaps, allocation of broadcast time shall be as prescribed by the National Election Commission Regulations. <Amended on Nov. 14, 1997>

(6)	The candidate may, in making a broadcast advertisement under paragraph (1), air Korean sign language (hereinafter referred to as "Korean sign language") or a caption for eligible voters with hearing disabilities. <Added on Feb. 16, 2000>

(7)	Deleted. <Feb. 16, 2000>

(8)

Any person operating or managing broadcasting facilities in which a broadcast advertisement is performed under paragraph (1), may not claim or collect advertisement fees against or from candidates in excess of the minimum fees of the commercial, cultural and other various advertisements broadcasted on the same hours during an election period, in calculating the expenses for such advertisement. <Added on Apr. 30, 1998>

Article 71 (Broadcast Speech of Candidates)

(1)

A candidate and a campaign speechmaker designated by the candidate may deliver a campaign speech using the television and radio broadcasting facilities (referring to the broadcasting facilities under Article 70 (1); hereafter in this Article the same shall apply) for the purpose of manifesting the platform and policy of the political party to which he or she belongs, his or her political views, or other matters necessary for the publicity during the election campaign period pursuant to the following: <Amended on Apr. 1, 1995; Jan. 13, 1997; Nov. 14, 1997; Apr. 30, 1998; Feb. 16, 2000; Mar. 12, 2004>

1.	A presidential election:

Up to 11 times by television and radio broadcast, respectively, and each time within 20 minutes by the candidate and a campaign speechmaker nominated by the candidate, respectively;

2.	An election of proportional representation members of the National Assembly:

One time by television and radio broadcast, respectively, and each time within 10 minutes by two representatives appointed by a political party from among candidates for proportional representation members of the National Assembly, respectively;

3.	Election of the National Assembly members of local constituencies and the heads of autonomous Gus/Sis/Guns:

Up to two times by television and radio broadcast, respectively, and each time within 10 minutes by a candidate using local broadcasting facilities;

4.	Election of the proportional representative City/Do council members:

One time within 10 minutes by television and radio broadcast, respectively, using local broadcasting facilities by a representative elected by each party from among the candidates for the relevant election at each constituency of proportional representative City/Do council members;

5.	An election of Mayors/Do Governors:

Up to five times by television and radio broadcast, respectively, using local broadcasting facilities, each time within 10 minutes by candidate.

(2)

"Local broadcasting facilities" in this Act means broadcasting facilities located in the area under the jurisdiction of the relevant City/Do (in cases of Do, including broadcasting facilities located in the Special Metropolitan City or the Metropolitan City which embraces an area of the relevant Do as its broadcast area) and broadcasting facilities located in the Seoul Special Metropolitan City in cases of the relevant City/Do that does not have its own broadcasting facilities in its jurisdictional region and is located adjacent to the Seoul Special Metropolitan City. <Added on Feb. 16, 2000; Mar. 12, 2004; Jan. 3, 2007; Jul. 28, 2011>

(3)	The latter part of Article 70 (1), and Article 70 (6), and (8), shall apply mutatis mutandis to broadcast speeches of the candidates, etc. <Amended on Apr. 30, 1998; Feb. 16, 2000>

(4)

In cases of any broadcast speech for which television broadcasting facilities are used under paragraph (1), contents, other than the speech scene of a candidate or campaign speechmaker, the name, mark, the name of a political party to which a candidate belongs (including marks or symbols representing the relevant political party), career of a candidate, summary of a speech and statistics, shall not be broadcast; where a candidate or campaign speechmaker intends to broadcast his or her speech by video recording, he or she shall utilize the relevant broadcasting facilities. <Added on Apr. 30, 1998; Feb. 16, 2000; Jan. 25, 2010>

(5)

A person who runs or manages broadcasting facilities shall notify the competent constituency election commission of the name of broadcasting facilities, date of utilization, time band, etc. for the election campaign speech by a candidate or campaign speechmaker under paragraph (1), not later than 30 days before the election day (in cases of special elections, not later than three days before the beginning day of application for candidate registration in special elections). <Amended on Feb. 16, 2000; Mar. 12, 2004; Jan. 17, 2012>

(6)

The constituency election commission shall designate and publicly announce, in advance, broadcasting facilities and schedules by unit of constituency which are to be used for the campaign speech under paragraph (1) by not later than three days before the beginning day of application for candidate registration (in cases of special elections, the date immediately before the beginning day of application for candidate registration), and notify a candidate thereof at the time of the application for candidate registration. <Amended on Feb. 16, 2000; Mar. 12, 2004; Jan. 17, 2012>

(7)

A candidate in the presidential election, if intending to make a campaign speech using the broadcasting facilities under paragraph (1), shall submit an application in writing, specifying the name of the broadcasting facilities to be used, the date and time of use, the name of a campaign speechmaker, time needed, method of use no later than three days after the close of candidate registration (the close of supplemental registration, in cases of a supplemental election) to the National Election Commission.

(8)

Where the date and time of use of the broadcasting facilities applied for by candidates (in cases of a party-nominated candidate, referring to a political party that nominates him or her as a candidate) under paragraph (7) overlaps one another, the National Election Commission shall determine the date and time, but the relevant date and time shall be impartial to all candidates. In this case, if candidates fail to make a contract for using broadcasting facilities no later than 24 hours before the determined date and time, any person operating or managing such broadcasting facilities may broadcast any others on such time band. <Amended on Apr. 30, 1998; Feb. 16, 2000>

(9)	The National Election Commission shall, upon determining the date and time of broadcast under paragraph (8), announce it publicly and notify the political parties or candidates thereof. <Amended on Apr. 30, 1998; Feb. 16, 2000>

(10)

In a National Assembly election, an election of proportional representation members of City/Do councils, and an election of the heads of local governments, if a candidate intends to make a campaign speech using the broadcasting facilities under paragraph (1) 2 through 5, he or she shall report the broadcasting facilities' name, date and time of use, time required, method of use, etc. in writing to the constituency election commission concerned, together with a copy of the contract for the use of broadcasting facilities entered into with a person who runs or manages the relevant broadcasting facilities, not later than three days before the date of broadcast. <Amended on Apr. 1, 1995; Jan. 13, 1997; Apr. 30, 1998>

(11)	A person who runs or manages the broadcasting facilities shall cooperate with a campaign speech using the broadcasting facilities under paragraph (1), and treat all candidates equally in consideration of time bands of broadcast, broadcast areas, etc. <Amended on Nov. 14, 1997>

(12)

A CATV broadcasting business operator (including a program provider engaged in general programming or specialized programming of news reports), CATV relay broadcasting business operator, and Internet press agency under the Broadcasting Act, may relay broadcast of campaign speeches by candidates, etc. In such cases, said operator or agency shall treat all candidates who have made broadcast speeches, with impartiality. <Amended on Feb. 16, 2000; Aug. 4, 2005; Feb. 29, 2008; Jan. 21, 2022>

(13)	The form of the application for a campaign speech using the broadcasting facilities, ways of adjusting overlapped broadcasting dates and times, and other necessary matters shall be prescribed by the National Election Commission Regulations. <Amended on Feb. 16, 2000>

[Title Amended on Jul. 28, 2011]

Article 72 (Broadcast of Candidate's Campaign Speeches Supervised by Broadcasting Facilities)

(1)

When the television and radio broadcasting facilities (referring to the broadcasting facilities under Article 70 (1); hereafter in this Article, the same shall apply) intend to air at their own expense the speeches, other than broadcast speeches prescribed in Article 71, of the candidate (in an election of proportional representation members of the National Assembly and an election of proportional representation members of local councils, referring to the person appointed by the recommending political party from among the candidates for the relevant election; hereafter in paragraph (3), the same shall apply) during the election campaign period, in order to have the eligible voters know of the political party or the candidate, they shall air the contents in the unedited status, and impartially treat all political parties or candidates by the constituency unit: Provided, That when a political party or a candidate gives up the campaign speech, the same shall not apply. <Amended on Apr. 1, 1995; Nov. 14, 1997; Feb. 16, 2000; Mar. 7, 2002; Mar. 12, 2004; Aug. 4, 2005>

(2)	In making a broadcast of the candidates' campaign speeches under paragraph (1), Korean sign language or a caption may be aired for eligible voters with hearing disabilities. <Added on Feb. 16, 2000; Dec. 29, 2020>

(3)

A person who runs or manages broadcasting facilities, if intending to broadcast a campaign speech of a candidate under paragraph (1), shall notify the competent constituency election commission of the name of the broadcasting facilities, broadcast date and time, required hours, etc. by no later than two days before the broadcast as prescribed by the National Election Commission Regulations.

(4)	The provisions of Article 71 (12) shall apply mutatis mutandis to the broadcast of a candidate's campaign speech supervised by broadcasting facilities. <Amended on Apr. 30, 1998>

Article 73 (Broadcast of Careers)

(1)

In a presidential election, a National Assembly election, and an election of the heads of local governments, the Korean Broadcasting System shall broadcast a candidate's photograph, name, mark and age, and the name of a political party to which the candidate belongs (in cases of an independent candidate, he or she shall be indicated as "independent"), occupation and other major career provided by the competent constituency election commission, using the television and radio broadcasting facilities during the election campaign period for up to two minutes each time for each candidate, in order to have the eligible voters know of them. In such cases, a relevant local broadcasting station may be used for other elections than the presidential election. <Amended on Jan. 13, 1997; Feb. 16, 2000>

(2)	The frequency of career broadcasts under paragraph (1) shall be based on any of the following subparagraphs by television and radio broadcast, respectively: <Amended on Feb. 16, 2000>

1.	Presidential elections:

Eight or more times respectively;

2.	Election of National Assembly members or heads of autonomous Gus/Sis/Guns:

Two or more times respectively;

3.	Election of Mayors/Do Governors:

Three or more times respectively.

(3)	Where a career broadcast is aired, the frequency and contents thereof shall be impartial to all candidates in the constituency as a unit, and the expenses therefor shall be borne by the Korean Broadcasting System.

(4)	Articles 71 (12) and 72 (2) shall apply mutatis mutandis to a career broadcast. <Amended on Feb. 16, 2000>

(5)	The submission of a manuscript for a career broadcast to the competent constituency election commission, notification of a career broadcast, and other necessary matters shall be prescribed by the National Election Commission Regulations.

Article 74 (Career Broadcasts Supervised by Broadcasting Facilities)

(1)

Other television and radio broadcasting facilities (referring to the broadcasting facilities under Article 70 (1); hereafter in this Article the same shall apply) than the Korean Broadcasting System shall, in cases where they intend to air the candidate's career at their own expense, base his or her broadcasts on the information provided by the competent constituency election commission, and impartially treat all candidates in the constituency as a unit. <Amended on Nov. 14, 1997; Feb. 16, 2000>

(2)	The provisions of Articles 71 (12) and 72 (2) and (3) shall apply mutatis mutandis to a career broadcast supervised by the broadcasting facilities. <Amended on Apr. 30, 1998; Feb. 16, 2000>

Article 75 Deleted. <Mar. 12, 2004>

Article 76 Deleted. <Mar. 12, 2004>

Article 77 Deleted. <Mar. 12, 2004>

Article 78 Deleted. <Mar. 12, 2004>

Article 79 (Campaign Speeches or Interviews at Open Places)

(1)

A candidate (excluding any candidate for proportional representation members of the National Assembly and proportional representation members of local councils; hereafter in this Article, the same shall apply) may make a campaign speech or interview at an open place for the purpose of providing information on the platform and policy of the political party to which he or she belongs, his or her political views or other necessary matters during the election campaign period. <Amended on Jan. 25, 2010>

(2)

"Campaign speech or interview at an open place" in paragraph (1) means a campaign speech requesting persons for the support of a political party or candidate or an interview by a candidate, an election campaign manager, the chief of an election liaison office, an election campaign worker (hereafter in this Article referred to as "candidate, etc.") and persons designated by a candidate, etc., from among persons who are able to conduct an election campaign, with persons in a way of answering questions, rendered at a roadside, square, open space, resident hall, market, shop, or other open places which many people pass through and which is prescribed by the National Election Commission Regulations. <Amended on Jan. 25, 2010>

(3)

A motor vehicle, loudspeaker system attached thereto, or portable loudspeaker for a campaign speech or interview may be used at an open place according to the classification of the following subparagraphs: <Amended on Apr. 1, 1995; Dec. 30, 1995; Nov. 14, 1997; Apr. 30, 1998; Feb. 16, 2000; Aug. 4, 2005; Jan. 25, 2010>

1.	In a presidential election:

One unit and one set per each candidate and each City/Do and Gu/Si/Gun election campaign liaison office;

2.	In the election of the National Assembly member of local constituency and the Mayor/Do Governor:

One unit and one set per each candidate and each Gu/Si/Gun election campaign liaison office;

3.	In the elections of the local council member of local constituency and the head of autonomous Gu/Si/Gun:

One unit and one set per each candidate.

(4)

The loudspeaker system provided for in paragraph (3) may be used only for a campaign speech or interview, and the portable loudspeaker may not be used in an area other than where the motor vehicle to be used for a campaign speech or interview comes to a halt. In such cases, such a portable loudspeaker may not be used at the same time with the loudspeaker system attached to the motor vehicle. <Amended on Dec. 30, 1995; Aug. 4, 2005; Jan. 25, 2010>

(5)	Where the loudspeaker system attached to a motor vehicle is used, the number of loudspeakers shall not exceed one. <Amended on Mar. 12, 2004>

(6)

The motor vehicle and loudspeaker system shall be marked under conditions prescribed by the National Election Commission Regulations, and the campaign poster under Article 64, the campaign bulletins under Article 65, the written campaign promises Article 66, or candidate's photograph may be attached thereto. <Amended on Jan. 25, 2010>

(7)	A candidate, etc. may temporarily attend an indoor meeting which is held by another person, to make a campaign speech or have an interview, and in this case, he or she may use a loudspeaker system installed at the place or a portable loudspeaker. <Amended on Jan. 25, 2010>

(8)	A loudspeaker system under paragraph (3) shall not generate noise in excess of the noise limits in accordance with the following classifications: <Amended on Jan. 18, 2022>

1.

Three kilowatts of rated output and 127 decibels of sound pressure for a loudspeaker system attached to a motor vehicle: Provided, That 40 kilowatts of rated output and 150 decibels of sound pressure, in cases of a loudspeaker system for candidates for presidential election under paragraph (3) 1 or candidates for Mayor/Do Governor election under subparagraph 2 of that paragraph;

2.	30 watts of rated power for a portable loudspeaker: Provided, That three kilowatts of rated power in cases of candidates for presidential election under paragraph (3) 1 or candidates for Mayor/Do Governor election under subparagraph 2 of that paragraph.

(9)	Deleted. <Jan. 25, 2010>

(10)

When making a campaign speech or having an interview at an open place (or when a candidate, etc. travels by the automobile specified in paragraph (3) or when he or she prepares himself or herself or stands by around such automobile in order to make a campaign speech or to have an interview), the candidate, etc. may play music for election campaign or broadcast contents pertaining to election campaign by using one audio or video recorder (including video and audio appliances; hereafter in this Article, the same shall apply) for each candidate and for each election campaign liaison office (limited to election campaign liaison offices for a presidential election, an election of constituency members of the National Assembly and an election of Mayors/Do Governors). In such cases, each audio and video recorder shall bear a label as prescribed by the National Election Commission Regulations. <Amended on Nov. 14, 1997; Jan. 25, 2010; Jan. 17, 2012; Aug. 13, 2015>

(11)	Deleted. <Jan. 25, 2010>

(12)	Size of video cameras and other necessary matters shall be prescribed by the National Election Commission Regulations. <Amended on Nov. 14, 1997; Mar. 12, 2004>

[Title Amended on Aug. 13, 2015]

[Inconsistency with the Constitution, 2018Hun-Ma730, December 27, 2019: The part regarding an election of the Mayor/Do Governor referred to in Article 79 (3) 2 of the Public Official Election Act (as amended by Act No. 9974 on Jan. 25, 2010) and subparagraph 3 of that paragraph are not consistent with the Constitution. The said provisions shall continue to apply until December 31, 2021 or until the legislature amends it, whichever comes earlier.]

Article 80 (Places Barred from Campaign Speech)

A campaign speech or interview under Article 79 shall not be held or made at the facilities or places falling under any of the following subparagraphs: <Amended on Mar. 12, 2004; Jan. 17, 2012>

1.	A building or facilities owned or managed by the State or each local government: Provided, That the same shall not apply to the park, cultural center, market, playground, citizens' hall, gymnasium, roadside, plaza or school and other open places where the multitudes pass through;

2.	Inside of a ship, regular passenger automobile, train, electromotive vehicle and aircraft, and within their terminal premises, and subway station premises;

3.	A hospital, clinic, library, research institute, laboratory, and other medical and research facilities.

Article 81 (Interviews or Debates by Organizations Inviting Candidates)

(1)

An organization which does not fall under Article 87 (1) 1 through 6 may invite one or several candidates, interviewers or debaters (limited to a presidential election and an election of Mayors/Do Governors, and referring to one person nominated by a political party or candidate for each election campaign office or election campaign liaison office, from among those who are eligible to engage in an election campaign; hereafter in this Article, the same shall apply), and hold an interview or debate indoors, as prescribed by this Act, to inquire the platform and policy of the political party to which he or she or they belong or the candidate's political views, or other matters: Provided, That the same shall not apply to the trade unions and organizations under Article 10 (1) 6. <Amended on Apr. 1, 1995; Nov. 14, 1997; Feb. 16, 2000; Mar. 7, 2002; Mar. 12, 2004; Aug. 4, 2005>

1.	Deleted; <Mar. 12, 2004>

2.	Deleted. <Mar. 12, 2004>

3.	Deleted. <Mar. 12, 2004>

(2)

"Interview" in paragraph (1) means that a candidate or an interviewee answers questions made by the organizer or questioner about the platform and policy of the political party to which he or she belongs or candidate's political views and other matters, and "debate" means that not less than two candidates or debaters question and answer through the organizer on the subject concerning the platform and policy of the political party to which they belong or candidate's political views and other matters under the direction of the organizer. <Amended on Nov. 14, 1997>

(3)

An organization which intends to hold an interview or debate under paragraph (1) shall report, in writing, the matters concerning the organization such as the name of the host organization, name of its representative, seat of its office, number of its members, and ground for its establishment, and the name of the candidate, interviewer or debater, subject of the interview or debate, name of the moderator, method of proceedings, and the date, time and place, the number of anticipated participants, etc. to the competent constituency election commission or the Gu/Si/Gun election commission having jurisdiction over the meeting place, no later than two days before the beginning of the meeting, as prescribed by the National Election Commission Regulations. In such cases, a written acceptance of the candidate, interviewer or debater to be invited shall be appended to the report.

(4)	When an interview or debate under paragraph (1) is held, a sign indicating the interview or debate under paragraph (1) shall be placed or posted as prescribed by the National Election Commission Regulations.

(5)	An opportunity for an interview or debate under paragraph (1) shall be impartially offered for all candidates unless a candidate refuses to accept the invitation, and the organization holding the interview or debate shall see to it that the interview or debate proceeds fairly.

(6)

No political party, candidate, interviewer, debater, election campaign manager, chief of an election campaign liaison office, election campaign worker, accountant in charge, or company, etc. having relations with a candidate or his or her family under Article 114 (2) shall offer, manifest an intention to offer, or promise to offer money, banquet, or other interests to the organization sponsoring the interview or debate or the moderator.

(7)	An organization holding an interview or debate under paragraph (1) shall not have the candidate bear its expenses.

(8)	Article 71 (12) shall apply mutatis mutandis to interviews or debates to which candidates, etc. are invited. <Added on Apr. 30, 1998>

(9)	The forms of the report on holding an interview or debate and the sign and other necessary matters shall be prescribed by the National Election Commission Regulations. <Amended on Nov. 14, 1997>

[Title Amended on Feb. 16, 2000]

Article 82 (Interviews or Debates by Press Inviting Candidates)

(1)

The press, such as a television or radio broadcasting facility (referring to the broadcasting facilities under Article 70 (1); hereafter in this Article, the same shall apply), newspaper business operators under subparagraph 3 of Article 2 of the Act on the Promotion of Newspapers and periodical business operators under subparagraph 2 of Article 2 of the Act on Promotion of Periodicals, Including Magazines (excluding those who publish information publications, electronic publications and other publications), news agencies provided for in subparagraph 3 of Article 2 of the Act on the Promotion of News Communications or Internet press agencies (hereafter in this Article referred to as the "press") may hold and report on an interview or debate to inquire about the platform and policy of a political party to which the relevant concerned belongs, or the candidate's political views or other matters by inviting the candidate or one or more interviewers or debaters (referring to those designated by the candidate, from among those who are eligible to engage in an election campaign) with the consent of the candidate during the election campaign period: Provided, That an interview or debate inviting any person who intends to be a candidate, may be held and reported from one year before the election day in a presidential election, and from 60 days before the election day in a National Assembly election or an election of the heads of local governments to one day before the commencement date of the election period, notwithstanding the provisions of Article 59. In such cases, if the broadcasting facilities intend to hold an interview or debate and to broadcast it, they shall air it in unedited forum, and notify the competent constituency election commission of the date and time, proceeding methods, etc. of the interview or debate pursuant to the National Election Commission Regulations. <Amended on Nov. 14, 1997; Apr. 30, 1998; Feb. 16, 2000; Aug. 4, 2005; Jan. 3, 2007; Feb. 29, 2008; Jul. 31, 2009; Jan. 25, 2010>

(2)	An interview or debate under paragraph (1) shall be held autonomously by the press, in consideration of the broadcasting hour, space of newspaper, etc.

(3)	An interview or debate under paragraph (1) shall proceed impartially, and matters necessary therefor shall be prescribed by the National Election Commission Regulations.

(4)	The provisions of Articles 71 (12), 72 (2) and 81 (2), (6) and (7) shall apply mutatis mutandis to an interview or debate by the press inviting candidates, etc. <Amended on Feb. 16, 2000>

[Title Amended on Feb. 16, 2000]

Article 82-2 (Interviews or Debates Supervised by Election Broadcasting Debate Commissions)

(1)

The National Election Broadcasting Debate Commission shall hold interviews or debates in a presidential election and an election of proportional representation members of the National Assembly under the conditions as prescribed in each of the following during an election campaign period: <Amended on Jan. 25, 2010>

1.	Presidential election:

Three or more times by inviting one or more persons, from among the candidates;

2.	Election of proportional representative National Assembly members:

Two or more times by inviting one or several persons designated by the representative of relevant political party, from among the candidates for proportional representative National Assembly members or persons who are able to conduct an election campaign (excluding candidates for National Assembly members of local constituency).

(2)

A City/Do election broadcasting debate commission shall hold interviews or debates under conditions prescribed in each of the following subparagraphs for an election of Mayors/Do Governors and an election of proportional representation members of City/Do councils during an election campaign period: <Amended on Aug. 4, 2005; Jan. 25, 2010>

1.	The election of the Mayor/Do Governor:

One or more times by inviting one or several persons, from among the candidates;

2.	The election of the proportional representative City/Do council members:

One or more times by inviting one or several persons who are designated by the representatives of the relevant political parties, from among candidates for the proportional representative City/Do council members or persons who are able to conduct an election campaign (excluding candidates for City/Do council members in a local constituency).

(3)

A Gu/Si/Gun election broadcasting debate commission shall hold interviews, debates or joint broadcast campaign speech meeting one or more times by inviting the candidates for an election of constituency members of the National Assembly and an election of the heads of autonomous Gus/Sis/Guns during an election campaign period. In such cases, the hour of joint broadcast campaign speech meeting shall be evenly allotted to each candidate within the limit of 10 minutes. <Amended on Aug. 4, 2005>

(4)

When an election broadcasting debate commission of each level holds interviews or debates referred to in paragraphs (1) through (3), it shall hold them by inviting any of the following candidates. In such cases, candidates who are invited by an election broadcasting debate commission of each level to the interviews and debates shall participate therein unless there is a compelling reason not to do so: <Amended on Aug. 4, 2005; Jan. 25, 2010>

1.	A presidential election:

(a)	Candidates nominated by political parties having five or more members of the National Assembly belonging thereto;

(b)

Candidates nominated by political parties that have obtained 3/100 or more votes of the total number of nationwide valid ballots in the immediately preceding presidential election or the immediately preceding election of proportional representation members of the National Assembly, proportional representation members of City/Do councils or proportional representation members of autonomous Gu/Si/Gun councils;

Candidates recommended by the political parties that have obtained 3/100 or more votes of the total number of nationwide valid ballots in the election of autonomous Gu/Si/Gun council members.

(c)

Candidates who occupy 5/100 or more support ratios averaging the results of public opinion poll conducted and publicized by the press under the conditions as set by the National Election Commission Regulations during the period from 30 days prior to the beginning date of election period to the day immediately preceding the beginning date of election period;

2.	An election of proportional representation members of the National Assembly or proportional representation members of City/Do councils:

(a)	Candidates designated by the representative of political party falling under subparagraph 1 (a) or (b);

(b)	Candidates designated by the representative of political party that has obtained 5/100 or more supports averaging the results of public opinion poll pursuant to subparagraph 1 (c);

3.	An election of constituency members of the National Assembly or the heads of local governments:

(a)	Candidates nominated by political parties falling under subparagraph 1 (a) or (b);

(b)

Candidates who have obtained 10/100 or more votes of the total number of valid ballots by running in a presidential election, an election of constituency members of the National Assembly or an election of the heads of local governments (including the special elections) in the relevant constituency in the recent four years (including where the district of constituency was altered and the altered district overlaps with the district of immediately preceding election);

(c)	Candidates whose support ratio averaging the results of public opinion poll referred to in subparagraph 1 (c) is 5/100 or more.

(5)

An election broadcasting debate commission of each level may hold the interviews or debates for candidates who are not subject to the invitation referred to in paragraph (4). In such cases, the time and frequency of the interviews and debates may be determined by the National Election Commission Regulations differently from the interviews and debates held for the candidates subject to the invitation referred to in paragraph (4). <Added on Aug. 4, 2005>

(6)

An election broadcasting debate commission of each level shall, when any invited candidate fails to participate in the interviews or debates without good cause, in violation of the latter part of paragraph (4), air the name of the political party to which the relevant candidate belongs (any independent candidate is referred to as "independent"), the mark and name of the relevant candidate and the fact of his or her failure to participate therein when it begins the relay broadcasting provided for in paragraph (10) or (11), and shall post the fact on the website specified by the National Election Commission Regulations, in order for eligible voters to know the fact. <Added on Aug. 4, 2005; Apr. 6, 2018>

(7)

When an election broadcasting debate commission of each level holds interviews or debates referred to in paragraphs (1) through (3) and (5) (including the joint broadcast campaign speech meeting; hereafter in this Article referred to as "interviews or debates"), it shall hold it impartially. <Amended on Aug. 4, 2005>

(8)

When any candidate announces the material violating this Act or takes the floor in excess of the allotted time in the interviews or debates, the chairperson of an election broadcasting debate commission of each level or a member nominated in advance by him or her may take necessary measures, such as restraining him or her or making a superimposed explanation.

(9)

When there exists any person who obstructs progress or upsets an order at the interviews or debates, the chairperson of an election broadcasting debate commission of each level or a member nominated in advance by him or her may order a suspension of such an act, and when he or she disobeys such order, may order him or her out of the interviews or debates.

(10)

Public broadcasting companies and terrestrial broadcasting companies shall relay broadcast of the interviews or debates through TV broadcasting at their own expense, and shall relay broadcast of the interviews or debates managed by the National Election Commission between 8 pm and 11 pm of the same day for a presidential election: Provided, That the same shall not apply where good reasons exist, such as operating a nationwide broadcasting zone, etc. in an election of constituency members of the National Assembly and an election of the heads of autonomous Gus/Sis/Guns. <Amended on Aug. 4, 2005; Feb. 29, 2008; Jan. 21, 2022>

(11)

Where public broadcasting companies or terrestrial broadcasting companies are unable to relay broadcast under the proviso of paragraph (10) for an election of constituency members of the National Assembly and an election of the heads of autonomous Gus/Sis/Guns, the relevant Gu/Si/Gun election broadcasting debate commission may order to relay broadcast of the interviews or debates through TV broadcasting by utilizing the broadcasting facilities of other composite cable TV business operators. In such cases, any fees for using the relevant broadcasting facilities shall be borne by the State and the relevant local government. <Amended on Aug. 4, 2005; Jan. 21, 2022>

(12)	When an election broadcasting debate commission of each level holds the interviews or debates, it may conduct a superimposed broadcasting or a sign language interpretation for eligible voters with hearing disabilities. <Amended on Aug. 4, 2005; Dec. 29, 2020>

(13)

A broadcasting business operator, CATV relay broadcasting business operator or Internet press agency referred to in Article 2 of the Broadcasting Act may make a relay broadcast of the interviews or debates at his or her own expense. In such cases, he or she shall make a relay broadcast without any editing. <Amended on Aug. 4, 2005; Feb. 29, 2008>

(14)	The procedures for progress of the interviews or debates, publicity for their holdings, computation and payment of the fees for using broadcasting facilities, and other necessary matters shall be stipulated by the National Election Commission Regulations.

[This Article Wholly Amended on Mar. 12, 2004]

Article 82-3 (Policy Debates Supervised by Election Broadcasting Debate Commissions)

(1)

The National Election Broadcasting Debate Commission shall hold a policy debate (hereafter in this Article referred to as "policy debates") not less than once each month in order to make it possible for a political party to manifest its platform and policy through the broadcasting, by inviting the representative of the political party falling under each of the following subparagraphs (excluding the political party that has publicly announced that it shall not participate in an election) or the person nominated by him or her, from 90 days prior to the election day (in the election or reelection due to presidential vacancy, the month next to the day on which the reasons for holding the said election have become definite) of the election held at the expiration of the terms of office (including the election or reelection due to the presidential vacancy) to the day immediately preceding the commencement date of candidates' registrations:

1.	Political party to which five or more members of the National Assembly belong;

2.

Political party that has obtained 3/100 or more votes of total number of nationwide valid ballots in the immediately preceding presidential election or the immediately preceding election of proportional representation members of the National Assembly or proportional representation members of City/Do councils.

(2)

The provisions of Article 82-2 (7) through (9), the main clause of (10), (12) and (13) shall apply mutatis mutandis to the policy debates. In such cases, "interviews or debates" shall be deemed "policy debates", and "election broadcasting debate commission of each level" "National Election Broadcasting Debate Commission". <Amended on Aug. 4, 2005>

(3)	The operation of, and procedures for progress of, the policy debates, and a publicity for their holdings, and other necessary matters shall be stipulated by the National Election Commission Regulations.

[This Article Added on Mar. 12, 2004]

[Previous Article 82-3 moved to Article 82-4 <Mar. 12, 2004>]

Article 82-4 (Election Campaigns by Utilizing Information and Communications Networks)

(1)	Deleted. <Dec. 29, 2020>

(2)

No one shall disseminate untrue facts about a candidate (including a person who intends to become a candidate; hereafter in this Article, the same shall apply), his or her spouse, or any of his or her lineal ascendants or descendants or siblings through an information and communications network under Article 2 (1) 1 of the Act on Promotion of Information and Communications Network Utilization and Information Protection (hereinafter referred to as “information and communications network”), and slander them by publicly revealing the facts with hostility: Provided, That this shall not apply where such facts are true and serve the public interest. <Amended on Feb. 29, 2012>

(3)

When an election commission at any level (excluding an Eup/Myeon/Dong election commission) or a candidate has found that any information violating the provisions of this Act was posted on a website or a bulletin board, chatting page, etc. thereof or transmitted through an information and communications network, the election commission or the candidate may request the person who manages or operates the website posting the relevant information to delete the information, or may request the manager or operator of the website handling the transmitted information or the provider of information and communications services under Article 2 (1) 3 of the Act on Promotion of Information and Communications Network Utilization and Information Protection, etc. (hereinafter referred to as "provider of information and communications services") to refuse, suspend, or restrict the said handling. In such cases, when the manager or operator of such website or the provider of information and communications services does not comply with the candidate’s request, the candidate may notify the competent constituency election commission of the fact in writing, while if the competent constituency election commission deems that the information that the candidate requests to delete or the information the handling of which the candidate requests to refuse, suspend, or restrict violates any provision of this Act, it may request the manager or operator of the relevant website or the provider of information and communications services to delete the information or to refuse, suspend, or restrict the handling of such information. <Amended on Aug. 4, 2005; Feb. 29, 2012>

(4)	The manager or operator of a website or the provider of information and communications services who has received a request from an election commission pursuant to paragraph (3) shall comply with it without delay. <Amended on Feb. 29, 2012>

(5)

The manager or operator of a website or the provider of information and communications services who has received a request from an election commission pursuant to paragraph (3), may raise objections to the election commission that has made such request within three days from receiving the said request, and the person who has posted or transmitted the relevant information may do so within three days from the date on which the relevant information was deleted or any handling thereof was refused, suspended or restricted. <Amended on Feb. 29, 2012>

(6)

The manager or operator of a website or the provider of information and communications services who deletes the relevant information or refuses, restricts, or suspends the handling thereof at the request of an election commission pursuant to paragraph (3) shall give notice thereof to the person who posted or transmitted the information, by posting the following details on the relevant website or a bulletin board, chatting page, etc. thereof or by other means: <Added on Mar. 25, 2020>

1.	The fact that there was a request under paragraph (3) from an election commission;

2.	The fact that an objection may be raised under paragraph (5).

(7)	Filing a request to delete, etc. the posting of any illegal information, raising objections and other necessary matters shall be prescribed by the National Election Commission Regulations. <Amended on Mar. 25, 2020>

[This Article Wholly Amended on Mar. 12, 2004]

[Moved from Article 82-3 <Mar. 12, 2004>]

Article 82-5 (Restriction on Transmission of Election Campaign Information)

(1)	No person shall be allowed to transmit the information for election campaigns in opposition to an expressed intent of the information recipient to refuse any receipt of messages.

(2)

When a preliminary candidate or a candidate sends information for election campaigns in the form of a text message by means of automatic broadcast communications pursuant to subparagraph 2 or 3 of Article 59 (hereinafter referred to as “information for election campaigns”) or entrusts a transmitting agency with the transmission of such information by e-mail, he or she shall clearly state the following matters in the information for election campaigns: <Amended on Aug. 4, 2005; Jan. 25, 2010; Feb. 29, 2012; Feb. 8, 2017>

1.	The fact that the information is for election campaign;

2.	The telephone number by which text messages are sent;

3.	The telephone number to which illegally collected information is reported;

4.	Matters concerning the measures and methods capable of easily making an indication of intent to refuse any receipt of messages.

(3)	Deleted. <Jan. 17, 2012>

(4)	Any person who transmits the election campaign information shall be prohibited from taking any technical measures in order to avoid or obstruct any refusal of receiving the messages by the receiver.

(5)	Any person who transmits the election campaign information shall take necessary measures so as to ensure the receiver does not bear any telephone fees and other monetary expenses to be incurred when the receiver refuses to receive any messages.

(6)	No person shall be allowed to transmit the election campaign information by utilizing the programs of automatically creating a contact place of the receiver, such as the telephone number, e-mail address, etc. by mixing the numerals, symbols or letters, and other technical apparatuses.

[This Article Added on Mar. 12, 2004]

Article 82-6 (Identification of Real Names on Bulletin Boards or Chatting Pages of Internet Press Agencies)

(1)

If any Internet press agency allows anyone to post information (hereafter in this Article referred to as "information, etc.") including texts, voice, pictures or video clips expressing his or her support for or opposition to candidates or political parties on a bulletin board, chatting page, etc., of the relevant website during the election campaign period, it shall take technical measures to have his or her real name identified in the real name certification method provided by the Minister of the Interior and Safety or a consumer reporting agency under subparagraph 5 (a) of Article 2 of the Credit Information Use and Protection Act (hereafter in this Article referred to as “consumer reporting agency”): Provided, That where the Internet press agency has taken measures for identity verification under Article 44-5 of the Act on Promotion of Information and Communications Network Utilization and Information Protection, it shall be deemed that the technical measures to have the real name identified have been taken. <Amended on Feb. 29, 2008; Jan. 25, 2010; Mar. 23, 2013; Nov. 19, 2014; Jul. 26, 2017; Feb. 4, 2020>

(2)

Where any political party or any candidate allows anyone to post information, etc. expressing his or her support for or opposition to the political party or candidate on a bulletin board, chatting page, etc. of a website opened and operated under the name of the party or the candidate, such party or candidate may take the technical measures referred to in paragraph (1). <Amended on Jan. 25, 2010>

(3)

The Minister of the Interior and Safety and a consumer reporting agency shall manage the real name certification data furnished pursuant to paragraphs (1) and (2) for each person whose real name is identified and for each website and shall, without delay, comply with a request from the National Election Commission to furnish it with the real name certification data, upon receipt of such request. <Amended on Feb. 29, 2008; Mar. 23, 2013; Jul. 26, 2017; Feb. 4, 2020>

(4)	Where anyone whose real name is identified pursuant to paragraph (1) posts information, etc., the relevant Internet press agency shall take technical measures to have the sign of "real name verified" appear on a bulletin board, chatting page, etc. of its website. <Amended on Jan. 25, 2010>

(5)	Any Internet press agency shall be prohibited from requesting anyone who intends to post information, etc. on a bulletin board, chatting page, etc. of its website to post his or her resident registration number thereon. <Amended on Jan. 25, 2010>

(6)

Where any information, etc. expressing the intention of supporting or opposing any political party or any candidate without the sign of "real name verified" are posted on a bulletin board, chatting page, etc. of a website, the relevant Internet press agency shall delete such information, etc. without delay. <Amended on Jan. 25, 2010>

(7)	Where any political party or candidate or any election commission at any level requests the deletion of the information, etc. referred to in paragraph (6), the relevant Internet press agency shall comply with such request without delay. <Amended on Jan. 25, 2010>

[This Article Wholly Amended on Aug. 4, 2005]

[Simple unconstitutionality, 2018Hun-Ma456, 2018Hun-Ga16, and 2020Hun-Ma406 (consolidated), January 28, 2021: Article 82-6 (1) and (3) of the Public Official Election Act (as amended by Act No. 16957 on Feb. 4, 2020) and Article 82-6 (4), (6), and (7) of the Public Official Election Act (as amended by Act No. 9974 on January 25, 2010) are all contrary to the Constitution.]

Article 82-7 (Internet Advertisements)

(1)

Every candidate (referring to a party-nominated candidate in a presidential election and a political party that nominates its candidates in an election of proportional representation members of the National Assembly and an election of proportional representation members of local councils; hereafter in this Article, the same shall apply) may post his or her advertisements for his or her election campaign (hereinafter referred to as "Internet advertisements") on the web-sites of Internet press agencies.

(2)	The Internet advertisements referred to in paragraph (1) shall carry the grounds of the advertisements and the names of advertisers thereof.

(3)

Not less than two candidates who are nominated by the same political party may jointly post the Internet advertisements referred to in paragraph (1). In such cases, expenses shall be shared by them according to their agreement and details of the sharing of the expenses shall be explicitly indicated in the advertisement contract.

(4)	Deleted. <Jan. 25, 2010>

(5)	No one shall post any Internet advertisement for his or her election campaign except in the case of paragraph (1).

(6)	Methods of indicating grounds for advertisements and other necessary matters shall be determined by the National Election Commission Regulations. <Amended on Jan. 25, 2010>

[This Article Added on Aug. 4, 2005]

Article 83 (Provision of Transportation)

(1)

In a presidential election, the President of the Korea Railroad Corporation shall issue each candidate with 50 free nationwide passes to be used continuously for the election campaign during the election campaign period, as prescribed by the National Election Commission Regulations. <Amended on Jan. 17, 2012>

(2)	When a candidate to whom who free nationwide passes have been issued pursuant to paragraph (1) resigns, dies, has his or her registration nullified, he or she shall return them without delay to the President of the Korea Railroad Corporation. <Amended on Jan. 17, 2012>

Article 84 (Independent Candidates Prohibited from Professing Political Party)

No independent candidate shall profess that he or she is supported or recommended by a specific political party: Provided, That the same shall not apply to acts falling under any of the following subparagraphs: <Amended on Apr. 1, 1995; Feb. 16, 2000; Mar. 12, 2004; Jan. 25, 2010>

1.	Indicating his or her career as a political party member;

2.	Where a political party, which has not nominated a candidate in the relevant constituency, supports or aids any independent candidate, the act of professing such fact.

[This Article, which was determined unconstitutional by the Constitutional Court on January 30, 2003, was amended by Act No. 7189, March 12, 2004]

[Title Amended on Jan. 25, 2010]

Article 85 (Prohibition of Involvement of Public Officials in Election)

(1)

No public official or person who shall remain politically neutral in accordance with statutes or regulations may exercise undue influence on an election in connection with his or her duties or by taking advantage of his or her status, or shall commit an act that affects an election otherwise. <Added on Feb. 13, 2014>

(2)

No public official shall engage in an election campaign, by taking advantage of his or her status. In such cases, where a public official engages in an election campaign targeting employees under his or her control, or executive officers and employees of an institution provided for in Article 53 (1) 4 through 6, or executive officers and employees of an institution subject to employment screening provided for in Article 17 of the Public Service Ethics Act, it shall be deemed that he or she engages in an election campaign, by taking advantage of his or her status. <Amended on Jan. 26, 2001; Aug. 4, 2005: Mar. 12, 2010; Jan. 17, 2012; Feb. 13, 2014; Dec. 30, 2014; Dec. 3, 2019>

(3)

No person shall engage in an election campaign targeting the members of an educational, religious or professional institution or organization, by taking advantage of any occupational act in the organization thereof, or shall have such members engage in an election campaign; or shall engage in an election campaign targeting a business organization or enterprise or members thereof, by taking advantage of a special transaction status, such as a systematization or subcontract, or shall have such organization or enterprise or members thereof engage in an election campaign. <Amended on Feb. 13, 2014>

(4)	No person shall engage in an election campaign targeting a person who has no right to vote and is under a special educational relationship, by taking advantage of an educational act. <Amended on Feb. 13, 2014>

[Title Amended on Feb. 13, 2014]

Article 86 (Public Officials Prohibited from Having Effects on Election)

(1)

A public official (excluding a member of the National Assembly and his or her assistant, chief secretary, and secretary, and a local council member), the master of the ship with a seafarer who has filed a shipboard voting report is onboard, a full-time executive officer of an institution, etc. provided for in Article 53 (1) 4 and a full-time executive officer or employee of an institution, etc. provided for in subparagraph 6 of that paragraph, the head of a Tong/Ri/Ban, a member of a residents' self-governing committee, a company commander or higher-ranking officer of the reserve forces, a full-time executive officer or employee of a national movement organization established pursuant to a special Act and contributed or subsidized by the State or a local government (referring to the Society for a Better Tomorrow, the Saemaul Movement Council, or the Korea Freedom Federation), and the representatives of these organizations, etc. (including City/Do organizations and Gu/Si/Gun organizations) shall not commit any of the following acts: <Amended on Nov. 14, 1997; Feb. 16, 2000; Mar. 7, 2002; Mar. 12, 2004; Aug. 4, 2005; Jan. 25, 2010; Jan. 17, 2012; Feb. 29, 2012; Jan. 17, 2014; May 29, 2016; Mar. 25, 2020>

1.	Promoting the achievements of a specific political party or candidate (including a person who intends to be a candidate; hereafter in this paragraph, the same shall apply) toward employees under his or her supervision or constituents, regardless of the pretext of education or whatever;

2.	Participating in planning an election campaign or in implementing such planning, by using his or her status;

3.	Surveying or publishing a support rate of eligible voters for a political party or candidate;

4.	Deleted; <Jan. 25, 2010>

5.	Holding a ground-breaking ceremony, during the election campaign period, for a construction work which is not to be immediately proceeded with, among the projects to be executed with the budget of the State or local governments;

6.	Taking a business trip for any purpose other than a normal business purpose during the election campaign period;

7.	Visiting any institution or facility related to his or her duties, on leave, during the election campaign period.

(2)

The head of a local government (including public officials belonging to such local government, in cases falling under subparagraph 4) shall not commit any of the following acts from 60 days prior to the election day (in cases of special elections holding reasons of which have become definite after 60 days prior to the election day, from the time when the reasons for holding the election have become definite) to the election day: <Added on Dec. 30, 1995; Nov. 14, 1997; Apr. 30, 1998; Feb. 16, 2000; Mar. 7, 2002; Mar. 12, 2004; Jan. 25, 2010; Jul. 28, 2011>

1.	Deleted; <Mar. 12, 2004>

2.	Advertising or publicizing the platforms, policies, doctrine and advocacy of the party to the constituents: Provided, That the same shall not apply where he or she becomes a preliminary candidate or a candidate for an election of the head of the relevant local government;

3.

Attending all political events held by a political party, such as a lecture meeting on the current situation, campaign meeting, or rally for training and unity of party members, etc. with the exception of a rally for formation of a political party, merger of parties, party reorganization, or election of candidates, or visiting an election campaign organization, election campaign office, or election campaign liaison office: Provided, That the same shall not apply where he or she becomes a preliminary candidate or a candidate for the election of the head of the relevant local government, or where he or she pays a courtesy call as a member of a political party to any political party's public open meetings organized only for its members by the political party whereto he or she belongs;

4.	Holding or supporting cultural lectures, project explanation meetings, public hearings, meetings of professional groups, athletics meetings, entertaining events for the aged, counseling of petition by general public, or other various events, with the exception of those under the following items:

(a)	Holding or supporting the events to be held or supported under statutes or regulations;

(b)	Holding or supporting events whose purposes may not be achieved unless they are held on a special day or during a specific period of time;

(c)	Relieving or restoring damages or losses from natural disasters, or other hazards;

(d)

Holding or supporting vocational support education or cultural lectures provided at a cost, or supporting cultural lectures to be held by the residents' self-governing center: Provided, That this shall not include supporting the opening of a new lecture in excess of the previous scope, or increasing the number of participants, or supporting cultural lectures by the residents' self-governing center to be conducted by relocating its place;

(e)	Solving a group civil petition or an urgent civil petition when it takes place;

(f)	Acts equivalent to those under items (a) through (e), as prescribed by the National Election Commission Regulations;

5.	Attending the meetings organized by a head of a Tong/Ri/Ban: Provided, That this shall not apply to natural disasters or other hazards, or a group civil petition or an urgent civil petition when it takes place.

(3)	Deleted. <Jan. 25, 2010>

(4)	Deleted. <Jan. 25, 2010>

(5)

Except for any of the following acts, the head of a local government (including public officials belonging to such local government) shall not publish, distribute or broadcast the publicity articles (including publicity papers, news bulletins, publications, facilities, sound recordings, visual records and other publicity articles, and the cases utilizing newspapers and broadcasting) to inform the residents of the plans for projects, process records and other activities of local government in excess of one kind and one time per quarter; may not publish, distribute or broadcast the publicity articles from 180 days (in cases of a special election, etc., the day when the ground for holding an election is confirmed; hereafter in paragraph (6) the same shall apply) before the election day of the head of relevant local government to the election day: <Added on Apr. 30, 1998; Feb. 16, 2000; Mar. 12, 2004; Mar. 2, 2006; Jan. 25, 2010>

1.	Publishing, distributing or broadcasting the publicity articles which are prescribed to do so by statutes or regulations;

2.	Obtaining the consent of persons and residents interested in specially designated projects in order to carry out such projects;

3.	Solving a group civil petition or an urgent civil petition when it takes place;

4.	Other acts equivalent to those referred to in the above subparagraphs and which are prescribed by the National Election Commission Regulations.

(6)

The head of a local government may not attend the lecture on culture to be held by the residents' self-governing center, any event held by organizations, other than public institutions, (including events held in the buildings of the relevant local governments) during his or her office hours from 180 days before the election day of the head of such a local government to the election day: Provided, That the same shall not apply to events he or she may attend or visit under paragraph (2) 3. <Added on Apr. 30, 1998; Mar. 7, 2002; Jan. 25, 2010>

(7)	No head of local governments may make an appearance in broadcasting, newspapers, magazines or other advertisements, without distinction of tasks under his or her jurisdiction or other pretexts. <Added on Jan. 25, 2010>

[Title Amended on Jul. 28, 2011]

[Paragraph (1) 2 of this Article, which was determined unconstitutional by the Constitution by the Constitutional Court on May 29, 2008, was amended by Act No. 9974, Jan. 25, 2010.]

Article 87 (Prohibition of Organization's Election Campaign)

(1)	An institution or organization (including the representative, executive officers or members) falling under any one of the following subparagraphs shall not be allowed to wage election campaigns under its title or that of its representative: <Amended on Aug. 4, 2005; Jan. 25, 2010>

1.	The State and local governments;

2.	Institutions or organizations under Article 53 (1) 4 through 6;

3.	Like-minded associations such as native folks society, relatives' society, alumni association, alpine society, etc., and private group of individuals such as fraternity group;

4.	National movement organizations established under the special Acts that receive any contribution or subsidy from the State or local governments (referring to the Society for a Better Tomorrow, Saemaul Movement Council, Korea Freedom Federation);

5.	Organizations prohibited from participating in the political activities or an election of public officials pursuant to the statutes or regulations;

6.

Institutions or organizations wherein a candidate or his or her family members (hereafter in this paragraph, referred to as "candidates, etc.") serve as executive officers, or established by contributing the assets of candidates, etc., or the candidate, etc. bear their operational expenses, or exercise the substantial influences in decision-making on their intentions pursuant to the related statutes or rules;

7.	Deleted; <Aug. 4, 2005>

8.	Institutions or organizations a majority of which are comprised of the persons not entitled to make any election campaigns.

(2)

No person may establish or set up any private organization or other organizations, such as the research institution, fellow members society, native folks society, alpine society, early rising soccer club, external group of a political party, regardless of their titles or professed purposes, for the election campaigns of a candidate (including a person intending to become a candidate).

[This Article Wholly Amended on Mar. 12, 2004]

Article 88 (Prohibition of Election Campaign in Favor of other Candidates)

A candidate, election campaign manager, chief of the election campaign liaison office, election campaign worker, accountant in charge, election campaign speechmaker, interviewer, or debater shall not carry out an election campaign in favor of another political party or another candidate for the same or partially overlapped constituency: Provided, That where part of an election campaign, while intended for a political party or candidate, leads to an election campaign for another political party or candidate, and where he or she supports the same political party or a candidate nominated by the same political party, or where the election campaign manager jointly appointed under this Act performs an election campaign, this shall not apply. <Amended on Jan. 17, 2012>

Article 89 (Prohibition of Establishment of Similar Institutions)

(1)

No one shall newly establish or install an election promotion committee, supporter’s association, research institute, counseling office, resting place, or any similar institution, association, organization, or facility in whatsoever name or use an existing institution, association, organization, or facility for a candidate or a person who intends to become a candidate, in addition to the election campaign office, election campaign liaison office, or election campaign organization under Article 61 (1) or (2): Provided, That this shall not apply to one election campaign organization established in the election campaign office of a candidate or a preliminary candidate and the supporters’ association under the Political Funds Act. <Amended on Nov. 14, 1997; Feb. 16, 2000; Mar. 12, 2004; Aug. 4, 2005; Oct. 2, 2012; Jan. 17, 2014>

(2)

An institution, association, organization, or facility established and operated by a political party or a candidate shall neither do anything, to the constituents, that may influence the election, nor do promotional activities using a poster, placard, broadcast, newspaper, communications, magazine or printed matter, or other means in the name of the political party or candidate, or in a manner that such a name may be analogized, in order to let the constituents know the establishment or activities of such institution, organization or facilities from 180 days before the election day (the time when the reason for holding the election becomes final, in cases of a special election) to the election day: Provided, That the same shall not apply to any notice and any advertisement aimed for raising funds under Article 15 of the Political Funds Act. <Amended on Nov. 14, 1997; Mar. 12, 2004; Aug. 4, 2005; Oct. 2, 2012>

Article 89-2 Deleted. <Mar. 12, 2004>

Article 90 (Prohibition of Installing of Facilities)

(1)

No one shall commit any of the following acts, except for those prescribed by this Act, in an effort to influence an election from 180 days before the election day (in cases of a special election, the time when the reason for holding such election becomes final) to the election day. In such cases, the use of the name of a political party (including a preparatory committee for the formation of a new political party), the name or photograph of a candidate (including any person who intends to be a candidate; hereafter in this Article the same shall apply), or expressing contents which make it possible to analogize such a name shall be deemed to be aimed at exerting an influence on the election:

1.	Installing, displaying, posting or distributing any wreath, balloon, signboard, placard, advertising balloon, advertising tower, other advertising material or facilities;

2.	Wearing or distributing a label or other indicating materials;

3.	Manufacturing or selling a symbol indicating candidate, such as a doll or mascot.

(2)	No acts falling under any of the following subparagraphs shall be deemed to be aimed at exerting an influence on the election, notwithstanding the provisions of paragraph (1):

1.	Ordinary political party activities under Article 37 (2) of the Political Parties Act during a period, other than the election period;

2.	Acts of courtesy, occupation or business, or ordinary political party activities, which are prescribed by the National Election Commission Regulations.

[This Article Wholly Amended on Jan. 25, 2010]

Article 91 (Restriction on Use of Loudspeaker Systems and Motor Vehicles)

(1)	No one shall use a loudspeaker system for an election campaign, except where it is used for a campaign speech at an open place, a campaign speech, interview or debate at an interview place, or an interview or debate meeting place, as prescribed by this Act. <Amended on Mar. 12, 2004>

(2)	Deleted. <Mar. 12, 2004>

(3)

No one shall carry out an election campaign, using a motor vehicle: Provided, That the same shall not apply to cases where an election campaign is waged aboard any motor vehicle at the place of campaign speech or interview provided for in Article 79, or where a motor vehicle is used by attaching thereon the campaign posters, etc. under paragraph 79 (6) of the said Article. <Amended on Mar. 12, 2004; Aug. 4, 2005; Jan. 25, 2010>

(4)

Except as provided for in the proviso of paragraph (3), a political party, candidate, election campaign manager, or chief of the election campaign liaison office may operate or have another person operate a motor vehicle or ship not exceeding the following numbers carrying marks issued by the competent election commission, to which campaign posters provided for in Article 64, the campaign bulletins provided for in Article 65 and the written campaign promises provided for in Article 66 are attached: <Amended on Apr. 1, 1995; Nov. 14, 1997; Feb. 16, 2000; Aug. 4, 2005; Jan. 3, 2007; Jan. 25, 2010>

1.	A presidential election and an election of Mayors/Do Governors:

Up to five motor vehicles or ships for each election campaign office and election campaign liaison office;

2.	Election of the National Assembly member of local constituency and the election of the head of an autonomous Gu/Si/Gun:

Up to five motor vehicles or ships for each candidate;

3.	Election of the City/Do council member of local constituency:

Up to two motor vehicles or ships for each candidate;

4.	Election of the autonomous Gu/Si/Gun council members of local constituency:

One motor vehicle or ship for each candidate.

Article 92 (Prohibition of Election Campaign Using Motion Pictures)

No one shall distribute, perform, play, show or run writings, entertainment, drama, motion picture or photograph for an election campaign during the election campaign period by means which are not prescribed in this Act.

Article 93 (Prohibition of Unlawful Distribution or Posting of Documents and Pictures)

(1)

No one shall distribute, post, scatter, play, or run an advertisement, letter of greeting, poster, photograph, document, drawing, printed matter, recording tape, video tape, or the like which contains the contents supporting, recommending or opposing a political party (including the preparatory committee for formation of a political party, and the platform and policy of a political party; hereafter in this Article, the same shall apply) or candidate (including a person who intends to be a candidate; hereafter in this Article, the same shall apply) or showing the name of the political party or candidate with the intention of influencing the election, not in accordance with the provisions of this Act, from 180 days before the election day (when the reason for holding the election becomes final, in cases of a special election) to the election day: Provided, That the same shall not apply to any of the following acts: <Amended on Nov. 14, 1997; Apr. 30, 1998; Mar. 7, 2002; Mar. 12, 2004; Aug. 4, 2005; Jan. 25, 2010>

1.

Where any candidate or any person falling under any of the subparagraphs of Article 60-3 (2) (including the chief of an election campaign liaison office, in cases falling under subparagraph 2, and, in such cases, "preliminary candidates" shall be deemed "candidates") personally hands out the name cards of a candidate under Article 60-3 (1) 2 during the election campaign period;

2.	Ordinary political party activities under Article 37 (2) of the Political Parties Act during a period, other than the election period.

(2)

No one may advertise works, entertainments, drama, motion pictures, photographs and other articles showing the name of a political party or candidate by means which are not prescribed in this Act from 90 days prior to the election day to the election day, and a candidate may not appear in the advertisements by broadcast, newspaper, magazine and others: Provided, That this shall not apply to ordinary advertisements for the sale of newspapers under subparagraph 1 of Article 2 of the Act on the Promotion of Newspapers and periodicals under Article 2 of the Act on Promotion of Periodicals, Including Magazines during a period other than the election period. <Amended on Apr. 30, 1998; Aug. 4, 2005; Jan. 25, 2010>

(3)	No one shall issue, distribute or demand, or have others do so, an identification card, document and other printed matter to or of the constituents in order to induce or promise them to carry out an election campaign. <Added on Dec. 30, 1995>

[Conditionally unconstitutional, by 2007 Hun-Ma 1001, 2010 Hun-Ba 88, 2010 Hun-Ma 173 and 191 (consolidated), Dec. 29, 2011; As far as "others similar thereto" under Article 93 (1) of the Public Official Election Act (amended by Act No. 9974, Jan. 25, 2010) is construed to include "methods of posting information, such as text messages or videos, on the Internet web site, or its bulletin board or chat room, or of sending e-mails using an information and communications network", such construction is in violation of the Constitution.]

[In Article 93 (1) 1, Article 60-3 (2) 3 which was determined to be unconstitutional by the Constitutional Court on September 29, 2016 was amended by Act No. 14556, Feb. 8, 2017.]

Article 94 (Prohibition of Advertisements by Broadcast or Newspaper)

No one shall run an advertisement, by means which are not prescribed in this Act, through press media such as a broadcast, newspaper, communication, magazine or other periodicals for an election campaign during the election campaign period. <Amended on Feb. 16, 2000>

Article 95 (Prohibition of Abnormal Distribution of Newspapers and Magazines)

(1)

Except as provided in this Act, no one shall distribute, circulate, post, or affix a newspaper, news report, or magazine or a newsletter or any other periodical of an institution, organization, or facility, which carries an article about an election, in any manner other than the ordinary manner or make a photocopy of such article to distribute, circulate, post, or affix it. <Amended on Jan. 17, 2012>

(2)

“Article about an election” in paragraph (1) means an article favorable or unfavorable to the success or defeat of a candidate (including a person who intends to become a candidate hereafter in Articles 96 and 97, ; the same shall apply) or an article in favor of or against a particular political party (including the preparatory committee for the establishment of a political party), while “distribution in the ordinary manner” means issuance and distribution in the usual manner within the usual extent. <Amended on Feb. 29, 2012>

[Title Amended on Jan. 17, 2012]

Article 96 (Prohibition of False Criticism or Report)

(1)	No one shall distort outcomes of a public opinion poll with regard to an election to publish or report falsified outcomes. <Amended on Feb. 29, 2012>

(2)	A person who operates or manages a broadcasting company, newspaper, news agency, magazine, or any other periodical or a person who edits, collects, writes, and reports news or articles shall not commit any of the following acts: <Added on Feb. 29, 2012>

1.	Purposely reporting an untrue fact with regard to an election or reporting a falsified fact or making a comment based on a falsified fact in order to aid and abet a particular candidate to win or lose in the election;

2.	Reporting the predicted outcome of an election without presenting objective data, such as outcomes of a public opinion poll.

[Title Amended on Feb. 29, 2012]

Article 97 (Restriction on Acts for Unlawful Use of Broadcast or Newspaper)

(1)

No one shall offer, manifest his or her will to offer, or promise to offer money and goods, banquet, or other interests for the election campaign to a person who operates, manages a broadcast, newspaper, communication, magazine, or other publications, or a person who edits, gathers materials, writes, or reports.

(2)

No political party, candidate, election campaign manager, chief of an election campaign liaison office, election campaign worker, accountant in charge, campaign speechmaker, interviewer, debater, or company having relations with the candidate or his or her family provided in Article 114 (2) shall offer, manifest his or her will to offer, or promise to offer money and goods, banquet, or other interests to a person who operates or manages a relevant broadcast, newspaper, wire service, magazine, or other publications, or a person who edits, gathers materials, writes, or reports, or his or her assistant, in connection with a news, criticism, interview or debate on the election.

(3)	A person who operates, manages a broadcast, newspaper, wire service, magazine, or other publications, or a person who edits, gathers materials, writes, or reports shall not receive, solicit, demand or promise money, banquet, or other interests provided in paragraphs (1) and (2).

Article 98 (Restriction on Use of Broadcast for Election Campaign)

Except as prescribed by this Act, no one shall broadcast or have someone else broadcast for an election campaign, using the broadcasting facilities, regardless of the way of using it. <Amended on Nov. 14, 1997; Feb. 16, 2000>

Article 99 (Prohibition of Election Campaign by Internal Broadcast)

Except as prescribed by this Act, no one shall carry out an election campaign using broadcasting equipment installed in means of transportation building or facilities during the election period.

Article 100 (Prohibition of Use of Audio Recorders)

No one shall wage the election campaign using any audio or video recorder (including a video and audio device) during the election campaign period, in violation of the provisions of this Act. <Amended on Mar. 12, 2004; Aug. 4, 2005>

Article 101 (Prohibition of other Campaign Speech Meetings)

No one shall hold a campaign meeting to give out his or her personal political views, a lecture meeting on the current situation, a discussion meeting, a debate meeting, other campaign speech meetings, or an interview or debate meeting other than a campaign speech, interview or an interview or debate meeting as prescribed by this Act by gathering many people during the election period, with the intention of influencing an election. <Amended on Mar. 12, 2004>

Article 102 (Restriction on Night Campaign Speeches)

(1)

A campaign speech, interview or an interview or debate meeting (excluding cases in which any broadcasting facilities are used) prescribed in this Act shall not be held from 11 p.m. until 6 a.m. on the following day, and any campaign speech or interview at an open place shall not be held from 11 p.m. until 7 a.m. on the following day: Provided, That where an campaign speech or interview is held at an open place, a loudspeaker system attached to a motor vehicle or a portable loudspeaker may be used from 7 a.m. until 9 p.m. <Amended on Dec. 30, 1995; Jan. 13, 1997; Mar. 12, 2004; Jan. 25, 2010; Jan. 18, 2022>

(2)

Where a campaign speech or interview is held at an open place under Article 79, no audio or video recorder (including video and audio appliances; hereafter in this paragraph the same shall apply) under Article 79 (10) shall be used from 9 p.m. until 7 a.m. on the following day: Provided, That only if a video recorder is played with screen on but volume off, it can be used until 11 p.m. <Added on Jan. 25, 2010; Jan. 17, 2012; Jan. 18, 2022>

Article 103 (Restriction on Various Assemblies)

(1)	Deleted. <Jan. 25, 2010>

(2)

National movement organizations (referring to the Society for a Better Tomorrow, the Saemaul Movement Council and the Korea Freedom Federation) established pursuant to the special Acts with contributions and subsidies provided by the State or local governments and residents' self-governing centers shall be prohibited from holding any meeting and any gathering during the election period regardless of their names. <Added on Aug. 4, 2005>

(3)	No one shall hold a meeting of hometown friends, clan gathering, alumni meeting, rally to strengthen the unity, picnic or other assemblies and meetings during the election period, with the aim of influencing an election. <Amended on Jan. 25, 2010>

(4)	The neighbor's meeting in Ban shall not be held during the election period unless any special reason exists.

(5)

No one shall hold a party to commemorate the publication of a book relating to a candidate (including the person intending to become a candidate) from 90 days prior to the election day (in cases of a special election the holding reason for which has become definite after 90 days prior to the election day, the time when the holding reason for said election has become definite) to the election day. <Added on Mar. 12, 2004>

Article 104 (Prohibition of Disturbing Acts at Campaign Speech Meeting)

No one shall disturb order at the place of speech or interview, etc., or interfere with its proceeding by violence, threat, or any other means at the place of campaign speech or interview at the open place, of interview or debate meeting, or of a rally of a political party prescribed by this Act, and no torch shall be used except in cases where the person in charge of a speech or interview, etc. uses it for lighting the speech platform and its surroundings. <Amended on Mar. 12, 2004>

Article 105 (Prohibition of Procession)

(1)

No one shall commit the acts falling under any one of the following subparagraphs by forming a group in excess of five persons (ten persons including the candidate in case of accompanying him or her) in order to wage the election campaign: Provided, That in cases of performing the act referred to in subparagraph 2, the candidate, his or her spouse (including one person who is reported by him or her instead of his or her spouse, from among his or her lineal descendants and ascendants), the election campaign manager, the chief of the election campaign liaison office, the election campaign worker, assistant accompanying a candidate, and the accountant in charge shall not be included in the number: <Amended on Mar. 12, 2004; Aug. 4, 2005; Jan. 25, 2010>

1.	Marching along the street;

2.	Saluting a number of constituents;

3.	Shouting repeatedly: Provided, That the same shall not apply to the case of repeated shouts to express supports for the relevant political party or candidates at the speech or interview at an open place under the provisions of Article 79.

(2)	Deleted. <Jan. 25, 2010>

Article 106 (Restriction on House-to-House Visits)

(1)	No one shall make a house-to-house call to persuade other person to join a political party, for an election campaign or during the election period.

(2)

Notwithstanding the provision of paragraph (1), a person who is eligible for an election campaign may appeal for support for a political party or candidate at a ceremony of coming-of-age, marriage, funeral and ancestor worship, road, market, shop, tea room, waiting room, or other open places to which many people have an access.

(3)	No one shall make a house-to-house call for the notification of any campaign speech or interview at an open place during the election period. <Amended on Mar. 12, 2004>

Article 107 (Prohibition of Signature or Seal Campaign)

No one shall obtain a signature or seal from a constituent for an election campaign.

Article 108 (Prohibition of Publication of Results of Public Opinion Poll)

(1)

No one shall publish or report, by quoting, the details or results of a public opinion poll (including a straw vote or popularity vote; hereafter in this Article, the same shall apply) that makes it possible to predict the approval rating of each political party or the successful candidate in an election, during a period between six days before the election day and the closing time of balloting on the election day. <Amended on Nov. 14, 1997; Aug. 4, 2005; Feb. 8, 2017; Mar. 9, 2017>

(2)

No one shall conduct a public opinion poll on an election using the means based upon models similar to the ballot paper or under the name of the candidate (including any person who intends to be a candidate; hereafter in this Article the same shall also apply) or political party (including the preparatory committee for formation of a political party; hereafter in this Article the same shall also apply) within 60 days prior to the election day (when the reason for holding the election becomes definite in cases of a special election for which the reason for holding the election has become definite after 60 days prior to the election day) to the election day: Provided, That the same shall not apply to a public opinion poll under Article 57-2 (2). <Amended on Nov. 14, 1997; Feb. 29, 2008; Jan. 25, 2010>

(3)

If any person, other than the following persons, intends to conduct a public opinion poll relating to election, he or she shall report to the competent deliberative committee on public opinion polls relating to election on matters prescribed by the National Election Commission Regulations, such as the purposes of a public opinion poll, the size of each sample, the area subject to a public opinion poll, the date, time, and method of a public opinion poll, and questions in full detail, by not later than two days before the commencement date of the public opinion poll: <Added on Jan. 25, 2010; Feb. 13, 2014; Dec. 24, 2015; Feb. 8, 2017>

1.	An institution or organization specializing in public opinion polls, which is requested by a third party to conduct a public opinion poll (excluding where such an institution or organization conducts a public opinion poll on its own, without any request from a third party);

2.	A political party (including a preparatory committee for the formation of a new political party and a policy research institute under Article 38 of the Political Parties Act);

3.	A broadcasting business operator defined under Article 2 of the Broadcasting Act;

4.	The business operator of a newspaper defined under Article 2 of the Act on the Promotion of Newspapers, Etc. or the business operator of a periodical defined under Article 2 of the Act on Promotion of Periodicals, Including Magazines, which is distributed nationwide or throughout a City/Do;

5.	The business operator of a news agency defined under Article 2 of the Act on Promotion of News Communications;

6.	An Internet press agency managed and operated by a business operator specified in any provision of subparagraphs 3 through 5;

7.	An Internet press agency accessed by not less than 100,000 users daily on average during three months immediately before the end of the preceding year.

(4)

If the competent deliberative committee on public opinion polls relating to election finds that the contents of a report submitted in accordance with paragraph (3) fail to comply with this Act or guidelines for conducting public opinion polls relating to election, it may request to supplement the report before conducting the relevant public opinion poll. If a person has an objection to a request for supplementation, he or she may file the objection, in writing, with the competent deliberative committee on public opinion polls relating to election. <Added on Feb. 13, 2014; Feb. 8, 2017>

(5)

Any person who conducts a public opinion poll with regard to an election shall disclose the name and telephone number of the opinion polling institution or organization before it asks persons polling questions, select persons to be polled, who can represent all the classes subject to the poll, but shall not commit any of the following acts: <Added on Nov. 14, 1997; Jan. 25, 2010; Feb. 29, 2012; Feb. 13, 2014; Dec. 24, 2015; Feb. 8, 2017>

1.	Practices in which questions are made of vocabulary or sentences biased to a particular political party or candidate;

2.	Practices in which those to be polled are urged to give answers, or where questions are made to lead them to give answers according to the intention of the inquiring person or where the views of those polled are distorted;

3.	Practices in which inquiries are made in ways that amusement or other gambling spirit is incited or providing a discount on the phone bill exceeding the discount on phone bill that may be provided pursuant to paragraph (13);

4.	Practices in which the name of those polled or the contents implicating it are disclosed.

(6)

Where any person publishes or reports the results of a public opinion poll on election, he or she shall publish or report matters specified by guidelines for conducting public opinion polls, and an institution or organization conducting a public opinion poll on election shall keep, for a period of six months after the election day, all those materials which are related to the public opinion poll, including necessary materials to evidence credibility and objectivity of polling, such as polling plans, selection of those to be polled, sampling, making of questionnaire, and analysis of outcomes, and collected answer sheets and results analysis materials, etc. <Added on Nov. 14, 1997; Jan. 25, 2010; Feb. 29, 2012; Feb. 13, 2014; Dec. 24, 2015>

(7)

When an institution conducting public opinion polls relating to election intends to publish or report the results of the opinion poll, it shall register matters specified by guidelines for conducting public opinion polls on election on the website of the National Election Survey Deliberation Commission. In such cases, where the institution conducting public opinion polls relating to election at the request of a third person, a person who has requested the relevant public opinion poll shall notify the institution conducting public opinion polls relating to election of the scheduled time and date for publishing or reporting the results of the relevant public opinion poll; and the institution conducting public opinion polls relating to election shall register the relevant matters before the scheduled time and date for publishing or reporting notified to it. <Amended on Dec. 24, 2015; Feb. 8, 2017>

(8)	No one shall perform any of the following acts: <Added on Feb. 13, 2014; Dec. 24, 2015; Feb. 8, 2017>

1.	Publishing or reporting the results of a public opinion poll on election not registered on the website of the National Election Survey Deliberation Commission in accordance with paragraph (7);

2.	Conducting a public opinion poll on election for the purpose of publishing or reporting without following guidelines for conducting public opinion polls on election, or publishing or reporting the results thereof.

(9)

In any of the following cases, the election commission having jurisdiction over the relevant constituency may request an institution or organization that has conducted a public opinion poll to submit data related to the public opinion poll it keeps pursuant to paragraph (6), and the institution or organization so requested shall comply with such request without delay: <Added on Feb. 29, 2012; Feb. 13, 2014; Dec. 24, 2015; Feb. 8, 2017>

1.	Where the competent constituency election commission finds that a reasonable ground exists to believe that a person has violated this Act in relation to a published or reported opinion poll;

2.

Where the National Election Survey Deliberation Commission receives a written objection against the objectivity and reliability of the published or reported results of the opinion poll, which is filed by a political party or candidate, or determines that it is necessary to conduct deliberation under Article 8-9 (7) 2.

(10)	No one shall conduct a public opinion poll on an election by telephone in the nighttime (referring to hours from 10 p.m. to 7 a.m. the following day). <Added on Jan. 25, 2010; Feb. 29, 2012; Feb. 13, 2014>

(11)	No person shall perform any of the following acts: <Added on Jan. 15, 2016>

1.	Instructing, persuading or inducing a number of constituents to give false answers about gender, age, etc. in order to have an influence on the results of public opinion polling for the primary election under Article 57-2 (1);

2.	Giving answers at least twice by the same persons by taking action, such as call forwarding of at least two telephone numbers, or instructing, persuading or inducing persons to give answers at least twice in order to have an influence on the results of public opinion polling for the election.

(12)

No person shall publish or report the result of the public opinion poll relating to any of the following elections by the closing time of polls on the relevant election day: Provided, That in cases falling under subparagraph 2, this shall not apply where the relevant institution conducting public opinion polls relating to election is exempted from transfer or indictment or is found not guilty: <Added on Feb. 8, 2017; Mar. 23, 2021>

1.	Public opinion polls relating to the relevant election conducted by political parties or candidates;

2.	Public opinion polls relating to election conducted by an institution conducting public opinion polls relating to election that is accused pursuant to Article 8-8 (10) or indicted for an offense relating to public opinion polls under this Act;

3.	Public opinion polls relating to election conducted by a polling institution or organization other than an institution conducting public opinion polls relating to election.

(13)

A discount on the telephone bill may be provided to persons who give conscientious answers to polling questions about election, as prescribed by the National Election Commission Regulations. In such cases, expenses incurred in providing a discount on the telephone bill shall be borne by a person who conducts the relevant public opinion poll. <Added on Feb. 8, 2017>

(14)	Procedures for filing a report on a public opinion poll or a formal objection and for requesting to submit data and other necessary matters shall be prescribed by the National Election Commission Regulations. <Added on Feb. 29, 2012; Feb. 13, 2014; Jan. 15, 2016; Feb. 8, 2017>

[Title Amended on Dec. 24, 2015]

Article 108-2 (Provision of Virtual Phone Numbers for Public Opinion Polls Relating to Election)

(1)	Where an institution conducting public opinion polls relating to election conducts public opinion polls relating to election using telephones for the purpose of publishing or reporting, it may use virtual phone numbers.

(2)	Where an institution conducting public opinion polls relating to election conducts public opinion polls under paragraph (1), it may request a mobile network operator to provide virtual phone numbers via the competent deliberative committee on public opinion polls relating to election.

(3)

An institution conducting public opinion polls relating to election which intends to use virtual phone numbers pursuant to paragraph (2) shall submit a written request for providing virtual phone numbers to the competent deliberative committee on public opinion polls relating to election no later than 10 days before the commencement date of the relevant public opinion poll, and the competent deliberative committee on public opinion polls relating to election shall send the relevant written request to a mobile network operator within three days from the date the relevant written request is submitted after examining matters mentioned therein.

(4)	Where an institution conducting public opinion polls relating to election makes a request under paragraph (2), it shall mention the following in a written request for providing virtual phone numbers:

1.	Purpose, details and period of the public opinion poll;

2.	Areas and the number of persons intended for the public opinion poll;

3.

The number of virtual phone numbers by gender, age group and region which each mobile network operator should provide. In such cases, the total number of virtual phone numbers which the institution conducting public opinion polls relating to election may request each mobile network operator to provide shall not exceed 30 times the number of persons intended for the public opinion poll under subparagraph 2;

4.	Other matters prescribed by the National Election Commission Regulations.

(5)	Articles 57-8 (4) through (7) and (9) through (11) shall apply mutatis mutandis to the provision of virtual phone numbers for the public opinion poll relating to election.

(6)

Methods and procedures for making requests for the provision of virtual phone numbers, the establishment of the period of validity of virtual phone numbers, a form of a written request for providing virtual phone numbers, and other necessary matters shall be prescribed by the National Election Commission Regulations.

[This Article Added on Feb. 8, 2017]

[Previous Article 108-2 moved to Article 108-3 <Feb. 8, 2017>]

Article 108-3 (Prohibition of Publication of the Result of Comparison and Appraisal concerning Policies and Campaign Promises)

(1)

The press (referring to the press prescribed in Article 82) and an organization that does not fall under any of the subparagraphs of Article 87 (1) (hereafter in this Article referred to as "press, etc.") may compare and appraise the policies and campaign promises of political parties or candidates (including those who intend to be a candidate; hereafter in this Article referred to as "candidate, etc."), and may publish the result.

(2)	When the press, etc. compare and appraise the policies and campaign promises of candidates, etc. or publish the result, they shall not perform any of the following acts:

1.	Forming and operating an appraisal team which is favorable or unfavorable to specific candidates, etc.;

2.	Drawing up candidates, etc. in order by a method of awarding points to, or of deciding ranking or class of each candidate, etc.

(3)

When the press, etc. publish the result of comparison and appraisal of policies or campaign promises of candidates, etc., they shall publish the details that verify the credibility and objectivity of appraisal, such as the main body of appraisal, composition and operation of appraisal team, and the index, standards, methods, etc. of appraisal, and shall preserve all of the data related with the comparison and appraisal until 6 months after the election day. In such cases, the organization that has campaigned or has claimed to campaign shall publish it together with the candidate, etc. that it supports.

[This Article Added on Feb. 29, 2008]

[Moved from Article 108-2 <Feb. 8, 2017>]

Article 109 (Prohibition of Election Campaign by Letters or Telegrams)

(1)

No one shall carry out any election campaign to eligible voters using letters, telegrams, or facsimiles, or other means of telecommunication, adopting methods which are not prescribed in this Act, during the election period. <Amended on Jan. 13, 1997; Nov. 14, 1997; Mar. 12, 2004; Aug. 4, 2005; Jan 25, 2010>

(2)	No election campaign by telephone under subparagraph 4 of Article 59 shall be performed in the night (referring to the hours between 11 p.m. and 6 a.m. on the following day). <Amended on Jan. 25, 2010; Feb. 29, 2012>

(3)	No one shall threaten a candidate, election campaign manager, chief of an election campaign liaison office, election campaign worker, accountant in charge, campaign speechmaker, interviewer, debater, or eligible voter, etc. through a telephone or other means, for an election campaign.

Article 110 (Prohibition of Slander against Candidates)

(1)

No person shall publish false information about the place of birth, family relations, social status, occupation, career, property, behavior or organization to which he or she belongs of a candidate (including a person who intends to be a candidate; hereafter in this Article the same shall apply), his or her spouse, lineal ascendants or descendants, or siblings, or about whether the candidate receives support from a specific person or specific organization, or slander his or her privacy by openly pointing out facts, for election campaign: Provided, That this shall not apply where such information is true and correct and is for public interest.

(2)	No person shall openly disparage or insult a specific region, people of such region or gender for election campaign in relation to a political party, a candidate, his or her spouse, lineal ascendants or descendants, or siblings.

[This Article Wholly Amended on Dec. 24, 2015]

Article 110-2 (Filing Objections to False Information)

(1)

Any person may file an objection, in writing, with the immediately superior election commission through the relevant election commission of the election district on the grounds that false information about the place of birth, family relations, social status, occupation, career, organization to which he or she belongs of a candidate or preliminary candidate, and about whether he or she receives support from a specific person or specific organization has been published.

(2)

The immediately superior election commission in receipt of a written objection under paragraph (1) may require a candidate, preliminary candidate, political party to which he or she belongs, person who files an objection, related government agency or local government, other institutions or organizations to submit evidentiary documents and related data. In such cases, a person required to submit evidentiary documents and related data shall comply with such requirement, without delay, except for extenuating circumstances.

(3)

Where no evidentiary document and related data are submitted or information published is proved false as a result of verification through evidential documents and related data submitted, the immediately superior election commission shall make a public announcement of the fact without delay. In such cases, it shall disclose a written formal objection and documents and data submitted on its web site without compilation or revision to the extent not violating the Personal Information Protection Act.

(4)	A form of a written objection, the disclosure of documents and data submitted, and other necessary matters shall be prescribed by the National Election Commission Regulations.

[This Article Added on Dec. 24, 2015]

Article 111 (Report on Parliamentary Activities)

(1)

A member of the National Assembly or a local council may report his or her parliamentary activities (including activities in his or her constituency, notification of schedules and other matters necessary for publicity of his or her achievements) to the constituents (including the constituents reside in a district newly included in the constituency by a change of the administrative or electorate district; hereafter in this Article, the same shall apply), through assemblies such as briefing sessions, written reports (including printed materials, sound recording, video recording, and copies of computerized data), the Internet, text messages, or direct telephone conversations between a caller and a receiver or congratulatory speeches or greeting words (including posting them): Provided, That no one shall report his or her performance of duties and parliamentary activities, in whatsoever name they are, by any means other than publishing them through an website or its bulletin board or chatting room or transmitting them by e-mail or by text message during a period beginning on 90 days before the election day for a presidential election, a National Assembly election, or an election of local council members or the heads of local governments and ending on the election day. <Amended on Mar. 12, 2004; Aug. 4, 2005; Jan. 25, 2010; Feb. 29, 2012>

(2)

Where a member of the National Assembly or a local council holds a briefing session of his or her parliamentary activities, he or she may paste or post notification posters and marks of session venue, and print the session name, date and time, venue and matters to be reported (excluding the contents to propagate the person who intends to be a candidate) on the relevant posters and marks. In such cases, a member of the National Assembly or a local council who holds a briefing session of his or her parliamentary activities shall, upon the completion of the said session, remove the posters and marks without delay.

(3)

Any member of the National Assembly or a local council who intends to mail the report pursuant to paragraph (1) may file an application, in writing, with the head of each Gu/Si/Gun for delivering the names and addresses of householders who are the constituents (hereafter in this Article referred to as "roll of householders") once in a year within the scope of the quantity of the delivery and the head of each Gu/Si/Gun shall, upon receiving the application, without delay, prepare and deliver the roll of householders to the applicant, notwithstanding the provisions of other statutes. <Added on Aug. 4, 2005>

(4)

Article 46 (3) and (4) shall apply mutatis mutandis to the payment of expenses incurred in preparing the roll of householders referred to in paragraph (3) and the prohibition on transferring, lending and using the delivered roll of householders. In such cases, "official list" shall be construed as "roll of householders". <Added on Aug. 4, 2005; Jan. 17, 2014>

(5)

The size and quantity of the notification posters and marks of the briefing session of parliamentary activities, the application for the delivery of the roll of householders and other matters necessary for the report on parliamentary activities shall be prescribed by the National Election Commission Regulations. <Amended on Aug. 4, 2005>

[This Article Wholly Amended on Feb. 16, 2000]

Article 112 (Definition of Acts of Contribution)

(1)

For the purpose of this Act, the term "contribution act" means an act of offering money, valuables and other benefits to property, an act of expressing an intention to provide such benefits, or an act of making a promise of such a provision to the persons in a relevant constituency, or an institution, organization, facilities, and to the meetings or events of the constituent, or to the persons having connections with a constituent even if they are outside the relevant constituency, or an institution, organization and facilities: <Amended on Mar. 12, 2004>

1.	Deleted; <Mar. 12, 2004>

2.	Deleted; <Mar. 12, 2004>

3.	Deleted; <Mar. 12, 2004>

4.	Deleted; <Mar. 12, 2004>

5.	Deleted; <Mar. 12, 2004>

6.	Deleted; <Mar. 12, 2004>

7.	Deleted; <Mar. 12, 2004>

8.	Deleted; <Mar. 12, 2004>

9.	Deleted; <Mar. 12, 2004>

10.	Deleted; <Mar. 12, 2004>

11.	Deleted. <Mar. 12, 2004>

(2)	Notwithstanding paragraph (1), none of the following acts shall be regarded as contribution: <Amended on Mar. 12, 2004; Aug. 4, 2005; Feb. 29, 2008; Jan. 25, 2010; Aug. 13, 2013; Mar. 9, 2017>

1.	Acts relating to ordinary activities of political parties:

(a)	Acts by a political party to support the operational expenses of the relevant party branch or paying remunerations to the salaried staff members in party branches at all levels;

(b)	Acts by the members of political parties to pay the party members fees and other expenses pursuant to the party constitution or regulations and other internal regulations;

(c)	Acts by a political party to subsidize the election expenses of the members of the National Assembly belonging thereto, or candidates and preliminary candidates to run in elections of public officials under this Act;

(d)

Furnishing the reading material and other printed material for a political party's publicity, cheap badges of a political party, or symbol mascots at the expense of a political party or provide drinks (excluding alcoholic beverages), such as tea or coffee within the ordinary limits, to the participating party members at a rally for the formation of political party, etc. under Article 140 (1), a rally of party members or their training sessions under Article 141 (2) and other rallies exclusive to party members belonging thereto;

(e)

Furnishing foods of a kind of snack, such as the snacks, rice cakes (Tteok), scrolled rice with dried sea weed (Gimbap), drinks (excluding alcoholic drinks), etc. within the ordinary limits to the persons visiting the election campaign office, election campaign liaison office or political party's office;

(f)

Furnishing foods of a kind of meals within the ordinary limits to the party executives taking part in the meeting of party executives wherein the representatives of central parties participate (referring to the meeting wherein the executives of local responsible person's level above the unit of Gu/Si/Gun and the high-ranking executives equivalent to 10 times the number of City/Dos) and the meeting of party executives wherein the representatives of City/Do parties participate (referring to the meeting wherein the executives of local responsible person's level above the unit of Eup/Myeon/Dong and the high ranking executives equivalent to the number of competent Gu/Si/Gun);

(g)	Acts by a political party to provide room and board, transportation or traveling expenses at the expense of a political party to salaried staff members attending education and training programs for salaried staff members belonging thereto;

(h)	Acts by the representative of a political party to provide foods of a kind of refreshments within the ordinary limits at the expense of a political party to persons attending a New Year's party or year-end party held exclusively for party members belonging thereto;

(i)

Acts by a political party to volunteer for citizens in its own name, such as disaster relief, helping persons with disabilities and helping farm works, or to provide means of transportation (excluding traveling expenses) and the foods of a kind of meals within the ordinary limits at the expense of a political party to party members attending volunteering acts;

(j)

Providing foods of a kind of meals at the expense of a political party to the representatives of functional or social organizations, presenters or debaters, etc. attending a social gathering or discussion held by the representative of a political party for the development of policies of a political party;

(k)	Awarding the certificate of commendation and ordinary additional prizes at the expense of a political party to exemplary or excellent party members at various events of a political party held by the representative of a political party;

(l)	Courtesy acts under the proviso of Article 57-5 (1);

(m)	Providing the food of a kind of meals at the expense of a political party to the representatives of, or persons in charge of, party branches at all levels, or salaried party executives attending a meeting on party affairs held by the representative of a political party;

(n)

Inviting the limited range of persons, such as the heads of institutions or organizations in the relevant regions, executives of social organizations and journalists, etc., hold a social gathering and provide the food of a kind of meals to such persons, at the expense of a political party, when the representative of a central party visits City/Do party, so as to understand party affairs and collect the opinions of local people;

(o)	Providing transportations means, at the expense of a political party, to its members who attend a nationwide meeting of its supreme representative organ, which is held by its central party pursuant to its constitution;

2.	Ceremonial acts:

(a)	Offering the money or goods for congratulations or condolences at a ceremony of coming-of-age, marriage, funeral and ancestral worship of relatives under Article 777 of the Civil Act or other congratulations or condolences;

(b)

Acts by the representative of a political party to provide congratulatory gifts or condolence money and goods (including a wreath or flowerpot) within the ordinary limits, when the relevant salaried staff members (including the representative and full-time executives of City/Do political party, in cases of the representative of a central party), working for a central party or City/Do political party, spouses thereof or lineal ascendants or descendants thereof are married or die, or provide courtesy gifts to the relevant salaried staff members (including the representative of City/Do political party, in cases of the representative of a central party) in its own name, at the expense of a political party at the year-end, new year, harvest festival, anniversary for the formation of political party or his or her birthday;

(c)

Providing courtesy wreath, flowerpot or ceremonial gifts at a memorial service for persons of distinguished service to the State, ceremony of a national holiday, ceremony of anniversaries held by the Government under Article 2 of the Regulations on Various Anniversaries, ceremony of opening or relocating public institutions or facilities, joint wedding ceremony, joint ceremony of burning incense, building dedication ceremony of affiliated institutions or organizations, rally for the formation of political party, rally for merging parties, rally for selecting candidates and other events equivalent thereto;

(d)

Acts by a foundation or a fund established for serving the public interests to provide money and gifts, which have been given on a regular basis for the purpose of establishment thereof from four years before the election day: Provided, That acts to expand or alter the amounts of money and gifts and the subjects or methods of payment, to pay money and gifts by a candidate (including a person who intends to be a candidate; hereafter in this Article, the same shall apply), or pay money and gifts by methods which make it enable to estimate the names of candidates or political parties, from 120 days before the election day (from the time of confirming the reason for holding the relevant election, in cases of a special election for which the reason for holding the election is confirmed after 120 days before the election day) to the election day, are excluded;

(e)

Acts by the constituents of various social or friendship groups and social organizations, such as friendship club, native folks society, relatives' society, alumni association, etc. to pay membership fees within the previous limits pursuant to the Articles of association, regulations or duties under the operational practices;

(f)	Acts by the believers to donate money (including an offer of goods) to the chapel, Catholic church, temple, etc. of their usual call pursuant to ordinary practices;

(g)

Offering foods of a kind of meal within the ordinary scope to the companions, when the companions going with the candidate for election campaign or the members of the National Assembly, candidates, or preliminary candidates visit the areas within the competent districts. In such cases, the scope of companions shall be stipulated by the National Election Commission Regulations;

(h)

Acts by the representatives of institutions, organizations or facilities to offer money or goods for congratulations or condolences (including wreath or flowerpot) within the ordinary scope when the full-time employee under their command (excluding employees of affiliated administrative agencies and subordinate administrative agencies under Sections 3 and 4 of Chapter VI of the Local Autonomy Act and of institutions, organizations and facilities equivalent thereto, regardless of the names thereof; hereafter in this subparagraph, the same shall apply), the representatives of affiliated or subordinate institutions, organizations or facilities, their spouses or their lineal ascendants or descendants are married or die, or provide courtesy gifts in the names of the relevant institutions, organizations or facilities to full-time employees under their command or the representatives of affiliated or subordinate institutions, organizations or facilities at the year-end, new year, harvest festival, anniversary for the formation of a political party or his or her birthday, in accordance with their own business plans and budgets;

(i)

Granting awards (excluding any supplementary award; hereafter in this subparagraph the same shall apply) within the ordinary limits or award a certificate of commendation only one time per year within the ordinary limits at the regular general meeting of organizations or groups (excluding private meetings, such as meeting of hometown friends, clan gathering, alumni meeting, meeting of club members or meeting for Korean traditional private fund) above the unit of Gu/Si/Gun in cultural, artistic and sports events regularly held in the Eup/Myeon/Dong or superior administrative district, the graduation ceremonies of schools of various levels and events held in the public interest within the scope of ceremony: Provided, That acts to grant awards by any candidate (including anyone who intends to be a candidate) from the date on which the application for the registration of preliminary candidates commences under Article 60-2 (1) to the election day shall be excluded;

(j)	Providing drinks（excluding alcoholic beverages), such as tea and coffee, within the ordinary limits, to persons attending a briefing on parliamentary politics, discussion on policies, gathering to commemorate publication and other events;

(k)

Providing foods of a kind of snacks (excluding alcoholic beverages) within the ordinary limits in the relevant offices to party executives and members or persons engaged in election affairs, who are attending the ceremony of opening an election office, an election liaison office or a political party election office, the ceremony of putting up a sign or the signboard hanging ceremony;

(l)

Giving official commendations (in cases of local governments, awarding additional prizes to persons who are not belonging to such local governments are excluded) to persons of distinguished service or provide foods of a kind of meal or cheap souvenirs within the ordinary limits, at the expense of companies, to executive officers belonging thereto, their families, persons engaged in trade or limited range of guests, etc., who are attending a regular anniversary ceremony, athletics competition for employees or a ceremony of completing company buildings, which are held by companies, etc. related with a candidate under Article 114 (2) or his or her family members;

(m)	Providing foods or return presents within the ordinary limits to congratulators or guests for condolences, etc., who are attending the ceremony of coming-of-age, marriage, funeral or ancestor worship of any person who is unable to make a contribution under Articles 113 and 114;

3.	Remedial or charitable acts:

(a)	Offering the subscription of money or goods to the accommodating asylums from among the social protection facilities established under statutes or regulations;

(b)

Offering the money and goods to the relief institutions (including the National Association for Disaster Relief) under the provisions of the Disaster Relief Act and the Korean National Red Cross under the Organization of the Korean National Red Cross Act for the relief of disasters due to natural disasters;

(c)	Offering the subscription of money or goods or relief money or goods to welfare facilities for persons with disabilities (excluding fee-charging welfare facilities) under Article 58 of the Act on Welfare of Persons with Disabilities;

(d)	Offering charitable or relief money and goods to persons with severe disabilities who are eligible recipients under the National Basic Living Security Act;

(e)

Offering charitable or relief money and goods to the juristic persons or organizations established by obtaining permission from the State, local governments, press, social organizations or religious organizations which supervise and implement charitable businesses and other State agencies or local governments: Provided, That in cases of targeting a wide range of constituents, offering them by indicating an official title, name or the name of a political party belonging thereto in individual items provided or packaging thereof shall be excluded;

(f)

Providing charitable or relief money and goods, which have been provided on a regular basis by establishing relations with children of families without parents as a sponsor through the State or local governments, which supervise and implement charity and relief projects, and other public institutions or corporations;

(g)

Providing money and goods to events, such as the association of supporters for children of families without parents, persons with disabilities, persons of distinguished service to the State, senior citizens without dependents, starving people, refugees or qualified recipients under the National Basic Living Security Act, which are held by national organizations, local governments or relief or charitable organizations: Provided, That offering them by indicating an official title, name or the name of a political party belonging thereto in individual items provided or packaging thereof shall be excluded;

(h)	Operating free schools (including evening classes) for working adolescents or teach students in such schools;

4.	Functional acts:

(a)

Acts by the State or local governments to offer money and goods (in cases where any local government grants official commendations and awards, the granting of any supplementary award shall be excluded; hereafter in item (b), the same shall apply) pursuant to the statutes or regulations which are implemented under their own project plans and with their budgets;

(b)	Acts by the local governments to offer money and goods under their own project plans and with their budgets, under ordinances of the relevant local governments which stipulates definitely the objects, methods, scopes, etc.;

(c)	Acts of relief or charity which are implemented by the State agencies or local governments executing relief or charity projects under their own project plans and with their budgets after revealing their titles;

(d)

Acts by the heads of the State, local governments or public institutions (referring to institutions designated under Article 4 of the Act on the Management of Public Institutions or other institutions determined by the National Election Commission Regulations) to offer the foods of a kind of meal (referring to the snacks in the cases of the heads of local governments) not later than 60 days prior to the election day within the ordinary limits and in accordance with their own project plans and budgets, to the public officials under their command, executive officers and employees, heads of the related agencies or organizations, representatives of the residents within customary scopes, who have taken part in the meeting to receive a report on affairs or to hear the residents' public opinions, etc. while they visit the subordinate agencies for the first round of visits or the New Year's visit;

(e)	Acts by the national organizations and local governments to provide money and goods or other profits in property in the names of the relevant national institutions or local governments, in accordance with their own business plans and budgets, so as to deal with the urgent pending issues;

(f)

Acts by national institutions to give a prize to exemplary sons, devoted daughters-in-law, exemplary citizens or persons of distinguished service, etc. during a period other than the election period, or acts by national institutions or local governments to provide comfort items to street cleaners, shoeblacks, salespersons of newspapers in streets or postmen, etc. within their jurisdictions;

(g)

Acts by members of the National Assembly or local councils to provide advice on citizen petitions free of charge in their permanent establishments where they perform their duties or tasks, or places prescribed by the National Election Commission Regulations, such as temporary offices, in cases of Sis/Guns/Gus where they do not have permanent establishments, or by a political party to provide advice in the headquarters thereof;

(h)	Acts by professionals equipped with specific qualifications determined by Acts, such as attorneys-at-law or doctors, to provide an advice for free on their own areas, such as laws or medical services, through their website opened to promote their tasks;

(i)

Acts by a company related to a candidate under Article 114 (2) or his or her family members to distribute materials for PR activities (excluding materials in which the name, title or photograph of a candidate is indicated), such as calendars, pocket notebooks, desk diary or note pads, etc. for its business activities in its own name to employees, a limited range of business partners or related institutions, organizations or facilities necessary for business activities or give free classes within the scope of business activities of the relevant company, in addition to business activities;

(j)	Performing the obligations, such as furnishing the prices for purchase of goods, construction works, provision of services, etc. or paying the shares in expenses, etc.;

5.	Supporting, donating or providing money and goods under statutes or regulations, other than acts falling under subparagraphs 1 through 4;

6.	Other acts corresponding to any one of the above subparagraphs, which are stipulated by the National Election Commission Regulations.

(3)

"Food of a kind of meals or drinks provided within the ordinary limits" in paragraph (2) means those offered for consumption at the site to the extent of satisfying every day courtesy not exceeding the amount of money as prescribed by the National Election Commission Regulations, excluding what are provided as souvenirs or gifts. <Added on Nov. 14, 1997; Jan. 25, 2010>

(4)

Functional acts of local governments, from among functional acts falling under items of paragraph (2) 4, shall be conducted in the names of the relevant local governments, except for cases where official commendations are given or prizes are awarded under statutes or regulations or municipal ordinance, and any act committed by methods of disclosing the titles or names of the heads of the relevant local governments or methods enabling people to estimate that the heads are engaged in such acts, shall be deemed acts of contribution. In such cases, any of the following cases shall be deemed to fall under "methods enabling people to estimate that the heads are engaged in such acts": <Added on Jan. 25, 2010>

1.	When the previous subjects, methods, scopes and periods are expanded without the enactment or revision of statutes or regulations or municipal ordinance;

2.	When acts to advertise the heads of the relevant local governments, such as PR activities to promote their achievements, are added.

(5)	The election commission of each level (excluding the Eup/Myeon/Dong election commission) shall promulgate the subject, contents and period of the restriction on any contribution act and other necessary matters, by means of advertisement, etc. <Amended on Nov. 14, 1997; Mar. 12, 2004; Aug. 4, 2005>

[Title Amended on Mar. 12, 2004]

Article 113 (Restriction on Contribution by Candidates)

(1)

A member of the National Assembly or a local council, the head of a local government, the representative of a political party, a candidate (including a person intending to become a candidate), and their spouse shall not be allowed to make a contribution act (including officiating at a wedding) to those within the relevant constituency, or institutions, organizations or facilities, or to those having connections with a constituent even if they are outside of the relevant constituency, or institutions, organizations or facilities.

(2)	No person shall be allowed to promise, instruct, solicit, mediate or demand the acts referred to in paragraph (1).

[This Article Wholly Amended on Mar. 12, 2004]

Article 114 (Restriction on Contribution by Political Parties and Family of Candidate)

(1)

A political party [including the council of political party members (hereinafter referred to as "council of political party members") under Article 37 (3) of the Political Parties Act and the preparatory committee for formation of a political party; hereafter in this Article, the same shall apply], the head of a political party's election campaign office, a candidate (including the person who intends to be a candidate; hereafter in this Article the same shall apply), or his or her lineal ascendants, descendants, or brothers and sisters, spouse of the candidate's lineal descendants, spouse of a brothers and sisters, election campaign manager, chief of the election campaign liaison office, election campaign worker, accountant in charge, election campaign speechmaker, interviewer, debater, or company or other juristic person or organization (hereinafter referred to as "company, etc.") having a relation with the candidate or his or her family (with respect to the scope of a family, the provision of Article 10 (1) 3 shall apply mutatis mutandis), or its executive officer or employee shall not make any contributions to the candidate or the political party to which he or she belongs, in connection with the election prior to the election period, and regardless of its relation to the election during the election period. In such cases, making contributions by disclosing the name of the candidate or political party to which he or she belongs or in the manner as presumable that the candidate or the political party to which he or she belongs makes a contribution, shall be considered as a contribution act for the candidate or political party in connection with the election. <Amended on Mar. 12, 2004; Jan. 25, 2010>

(2)	"Company, etc. having a relation with the candidate or his or her family" in paragraph (1) means a company falling under any one of the following subparagraphs: <Amended on Aug. 4, 2005>

1.

A company or other juristic person or organization of which the candidate is an executive officer, employee or member, or he or she participates in the establishment and operation through a contribution of funds, or he or she may exert a substantial influence on the decision making as prescribed by related statutes or regulations or an agreement;

2.

A company or other juristic person or organization of which the candidate's family member is an executive officer or member, or participates in the establishment and operation through a contribution of funds, or he or she may exert a substantial influence on the decision making as prescribed by related statutes or regulations or an agreement;

3.	A supporters' association established for a candidate or political party to which he or she belongs, as prescribed by the Political Funds Act.

Article 115 (Restriction on Contribution by Third Persons)

A person, even though not provided for in Article 113 or 114, shall not make, or have another make contributions to a candidate (including a person who intends to be a candidate; hereafter the same shall apply in this Article) or political party (including the preparatory committee for formation of a new political party; hereafter the same shall apply in this Article) to which he or she belongs, in connection with an election. In such cases, making contributions by disclosing the name of the candidate or political party to which he or she belongs or in the manner as presumable that the candidate or the political party to which he or she belongs makes a contribution, shall be considered as a contribution act for the candidate or political party in connection with the election. <Amended on Mar. 12, 2004>

Article 116 (Prohibition of Solicitation and Request for Contribution)

No one shall receive contributions from any person, for whom acts of contribution under Articles 113 through 115 are restricted, with respect to elections, or solicit or request such person to make contributions.

[This Article Wholly Amended on Jan. 25, 2010]

Article 117 (Prohibition on Receiving Contributions)

No one shall demand contributions of or receive contributions from a person who is prohibited from contributing any political fund pursuant to Article 31 of the Political Funds Act, in connection with any election. <Amended on Aug. 4, 2005>

Article 117-2 Deleted. <Mar. 12, 2004>

Article 118 (Prohibition of Return Courtesy after Election)

A candidate, his or her family, or the executive staff member of a political party shall not be involved in an act falling under any of the following subparagraphs to a constituent for congratulations, consolation, or other return courtesy in connection with a success or defeat in the election, after the election: <Amended on Jan. 25, 2010>

1.	Offering money, goods or banquet;

2.	Advertising through a broadcast, newspaper, magazine or other publications;

3.	Making a procession in a motor vehicle, marching along the street in a group, or shouting repeatedly in the street: Provided, That the same shall not apply to an act of greeting in the street for the success or defeat in the election, using a motor vehicle as provided in Article 79 (3);

4.	Gathering constituents and holding a meeting for celebrating the success or consoling the defeat in the election;

5.	Putting up banners: Provided, That the same shall not apply to acts of putting up a banner for each Eup/Myeon/Dong in the relevant constituency for 13 days from the following day after the election day.

Article 119 (Definition of Election Expenses)

(1)

For the purpose of this Act, the term "election expenses" means money, goods, obligation, or other things of economic value required for the election campaign in the relevant election and borne by a candidate (including a person intending to become a candidate, and including a political party which recommends a candidate in a presidential election, in an election of proportional representation members of the National Assembly and in an election of proportional representation members of local councils; hereafter in this paragraph, the same shall apply) and any of the following expenses: <Amended on Apr. 1, 1995; Feb. 16, 2000; Mar. 12, 2004; Aug. 4, 2005; Jan. 25, 2010>

1.	Any expenses disbursed by a candidate for an election campaign, in violation of this Act or the provisions concerning the restriction on contributions;

2.

Any expenses disbursed by a political party, the head of a political party's election campaign office, the spouse and lineal ascendants or descendants of a candidate, election campaign manager, the chief of the election campaign liaison office and accountants in charge, for election campaigns (including illegal election campaigns; hereafter in this paragraph the same shall apply ) of the relevant candidates and expenses disbursed, in violation of provisions concerning the restriction on contributions;

3.

Any expenses disbursed by persons, who have been appointed as election campaign manager, the chief of the election campaign liaison office and accountants in charge, for election campaigns of the relevant candidates until they are appointed and reported, and expenses disbursed, in violation of provisions concerning the restriction on contributions;

4.

Any expenses disbursed by any person, even if he or she does not fall under subparagraphs 2 and 3, in collusion with a candidate or persons prescribed under subparagraph 2 or 3, for election campaigns of the relevant candidates, and expenses disbursed, in violation of provisions concerning the restriction on contributions.

(2)	"Revenue" in this Article means money, goods convertible into money, or other economic interests or promise to receive economic interests, for an appropriation for election expenses.

(3)	"Disbursement" in this Article means any provision or delivery of election expenses, or promise to do so.

(4)	"Accountant in charge" in this Article means the persons in charge of accounting who are each selected, appointed and reported pursuant to Article 34 (1) 5 and 6 or (3) of the Political Funds Act. <Added on Aug. 4, 2005>

Article 120 (Expenses not Recognized as Election Expenses)

Any of the following expenses shall not be considered as election expenses prescribed by this Act: <Amended on Dec. 30, 1995; Nov. 14, 1997; Mar. 12, 2004; Jan. 25, 2010; Feb. 8, 2017>

1.	Expenses incurred in preparing an election campaign, such as those needed for obtaining recommendations of the eligible voters;

2.	Expenses for a rally to elect the candidate of a political party, and other expenses incurred for party activities related to an election;

3.	Election deposits, payments and fees to be paid to the State, local government or election commission in connection with an election;

4.	Electricity, telephone and water bills and other maintenance expenses of an election campaign office and election campaign liaison office, which have been disbursed by a political party or candidate before and since the beginning of the election campaign period;

5.	Expenses for installation and maintenance of an election campaign office and election campaign liaison office;

6.

Expenses for operating an automobile (including a motor vehicle and ship as provided in Article 91 (4)) used by a political party, candidate, election campaign manager, chief of the election campaign liaison office, election campaign worker, accountant in charge, election campaign speechmaker, interviewer and debater;

7.	Expenses such as telegram charges, etc. disbursed by a third person for an election campaign of a certain candidate, without collusion with the political party, candidate, election campaign manager, chief of the election campaign liaison office or accountant in charge;

8.

Expenses incurred in an act not considered as a contribution act under Article 112 (2): Provided, That expenses for acts under subparagraphs 1 (e) (excluding where foods are provided to persons visiting the office of a political party) and 2 (g) (excluding where traveling expenses, etc. are provided by members of the National Assembly, other than a candidate or preliminary candidate) of that paragraph shall be deemed election expenses;

9.	Expenses for putting remaining affairs in order, the cause for disbursement of which occurs after the election;

10.

Expenses incurred by candidates (including persons who intend to become candidates) in conducting public opinion polls relating to election: Provided, That expenses incurred in conducting public opinion polls conducted in excess of four times during the period until the election day from the commencement date of filing an application for the registration of preliminary candidates under Article 60-2 (1) shall be deemed election campaign expenses.

Article 121 (Computation of Restricted Amount of Election Expenses)

(1)	The restricted amount of election expenses shall be the amount to be computed for each election pursuant to each of the following. In such cases, any fraction falling short of one million won shall be deemed one million won: <Amended on Aug. 4, 2005; Feb. 29, 2008; Aug. 13, 2015; Apr. 6, 2018>

1.	A presidential election:

Number of population × 950 won;

2.	An election of constituency members of the National Assembly:

100 million won + (number of population × 200 won) ＋ (the number of Eup/Myeon/Dong × 2 million won): In this case, if one constituency for electing a member to the National Assembly is composed of at least two autonomous Gus/Sis/Guns, the amount of 15 million won shall be added for each more than one autonomous Gu/Si/Gun;

3.	An election of proportional representation members of the National Assembly:

Number of population × 90 won;

4.	An election of constituency members of City/Do councils:

40 million won ＋ (number of population × 100 won);

5.	An election of proportional representation members of City/Do councils:

40 million won ＋ (number of population × 50 won);

6.	An election of Mayors/Do Governors:

(a)	An election of the Special Metropolitan City Mayor, Metropolitan City Mayors, and a Special Self-Governing City Mayor:

400 million won (200 million won when population number is short by two million) ＋ (number of population × 300 won);

(b)	An election of Do Governors:

800 million won (300 million won when population number is short by one million) ＋ (number of population × 250 won);

7.	An election of constituency members of autonomous Gu/Si/Gun councils

35 million won ＋ (number of population × 100 won);

8.	An election of proportional representation members of autonomous Gu/Si/Gun councils:

35 million won + (number of population × 50 won);

9.	An election of the heads of autonomous Gus/Sis/Guns:

90 million won＋(number of population × 200 won) ＋ (the number of Eup/Myeon/Dong × 1 million won).

(2)

When computing the restricted amount of election expenses under paragraph (1), it may be increased or reduced by applying the ratio (hereinafter referred to as "ratio of computing the restricted amount") set by taking account of the fluctuation ratio of national consumer price (referring to the fluctuation ratio of national consumer price publicly notified annually by the Commissioner of the Statistics Korea under Article 3 of the Statistics Act) from the end of the month whereto belongs the election day of the election held at the expiration of the terms of office immediately preceding the relevant election to the end of the month prior to immediately preceding one next to the month whereto belongs the date of public announcement under Article 122. In such cases, the ratio of computing the restricted amount shall be decided by the competent constituency election commission for each relevant election. <Amended on Aug. 4, 2005>

(3)	The standard date of population numbers for computing the restricted amount of election expenses, a decision on ratio of computing the restricted amount, and other necessary matters shall be stipulated by the National Election Commission Regulations.

[This Article Added on Mar. 12, 2004]

Article 122 (Public Announcement of Restricted Amount of Election Expenses)

Each constituency election commission shall publicly announce the restricted amount of election expenses which have been computed for each election under Article 121, under conditions stipulated by the National Election Commission Regulations.

[This Article Wholly Amended on Mar. 12, 2004]

Article 122-2 (Filling of Election Expenses)

(1)

In accordance with the following provisions, the constituency election commission shall, after the election day, replenish the election expenses (referring to the election expenses deemed to have been lawfully paid, which are stated in the accounting report that is submitted pursuant to Article 40 of the Political Funds Act) paid by a candidate (referring to a party-nominated candidate in a presidential election and a party that nominates its candidate in an election of proportional representation members of the National Assembly or in an election of proportional representation members of local councils; hereafter in this Article, the same shall apply) for the election campaign under this Act, at the expenses of the State in a presidential election and a National Assembly election, and at the expenses of relevant local governments in the election of local council members and the heads of local governments, within the limit of expenses publicly announced under Article 122: <Amended on Mar. 12, 2004; Aug. 4, 2005>

1.	A presidential election, an election of constituency members of the National Assembly, an election of constituency members of local councils and an election of the heads of local governments:

(a)	Where a candidate has been elected or deceased, or where the number of votes obtained by a candidate has been 15/100 or more of the total number of valid ballots:

Whole amount of election expenses paid by a candidate;

(b)	Where the number of votes obtained by a candidate has been not less than 10/100 but less than 15/100 of the total number of valid ballots:

Amounts equivalent to 50/100 of election expenses paid by a candidate;

2.	An election of proportional representation members of the National Assembly and an election of proportional representation members of local councils:

Whole amount of election expenses paid by the relevant political party where there is an elected candidate, from among the candidates listed in the candidates roster.

(2)	The following expenses shall not be replenished in the replenishment of the election expenses provided for in paragraph (1): <Added on Aug. 4, 2005; Jan. 25, 2010; Jul. 28, 2011>

1.	Election expenses spent by preliminary candidates;

2.	Expenses that are not reported or falsely reported in the accounting report that is submitted pursuant to Article 40 of the Political Funds Act;

3.	Expenses that are spent to wage the election campaign that violates this Act or the regulations for the restriction on contribution act;

4.	Expenses for correcting or deleting the details of campaign posters and campaign bulletins, after they are submitted to the competent Gu/Si/Gun election commission under Article 64 or 65;

5.	Allowances, actual expenses and other expenses that are paid in connection with the election campaign, except those provided for in this Act;

6.	Expenses for which legitimate receipts and documentary evidence that prove their spending are not attached, without good cause;

7.

Expenses that are not actually paid by candidates and political parties by using vehicles, equipment and goods, etc. owned by candidates or vehicles, equipment and goods, etc. that are furnished or rented free of charge by or from the families of candidates, political parties to which they belong or third persons;

8.	Where the claimed amount of expenses is extremely high without good cause compared with normal trading prices or rental prices that are calculated according to the standards set by the National Election Commission Regulations, the expenses of excessive value;

9.	Expenses incurred in renting, purchasing and manufacturing vehicles, equipment and goods, etc. that are not used for the election campaign;

10.

Charges for mobile phone calls and fees for information usage; Provided, That call charges borne by a candidate shall be replenished, from among charges for mobile phone calls used for election campaigns during the election campaign period by a candidate, his or her spouse, election campaign manager, the chief of an election liaison office and accountants in charge;

11.	Other expenses prescribed by the National Election Commission Regulations as being corresponding to the expenses referred to in each of above subparagraphs.

(3)

The following expenses shall be borne by the State or a local government for candidates. In such cases, the expenses specified in subparagraphs 3-2 and 5 shall be borne by the State: <Amended on Mar. 12, 2004; Aug. 4, 2005; Jan. 3, 2007; Feb. 29, 2008; Jan. 25, 2010; Jan. 17, 2014; Aug. 13, 2015; Dec. 29, 2020>

1.	Expenses for pasting and removing campaign posters under Article 64 (including restoration expenses resulting from the paste and removal);

2.

Expenses for preparing campaign bulletins in braille (including storage media submitted by candidates under paragraph (11) of that Article; hereafter in this paragraph the same shall apply) and expenses for sending and postage of booklet-type election campaign bulletins (including election campaign bulletins in braille and the open data on candidates under Article 65 (9)) and leaflet-type campaign bulletins pursuant to Article 65;

3.	Expenses for making campaign bulletins in braille under Article 66 (8);

3-2.	Allowances and actual expenses for assistants (including assistants appointed when the candidate was a preliminary candidate);

4.	Expenses for holding the interviews or debates (including a joint broadcast speech meeting) under Article 82-2;

5.	Expenses for holding the policy debates under Article 82-3;

6.	Allowances and the cost of meals for the voting observers under Article 161 and for the early voting observers under Article 162;

7.	Allowances and the cost of meals for the counting observers under Article 181.

(4)	Methods of calculating expenses and filing the claim for the replenishment provided for paragraphs (1) through (3) and other necessary matters shall be prescribed by the National Election Commission Regulations. <Amended on Aug. 4, 2005>

[This Article Added on Feb. 16, 2000]

[Title Amended on Jul. 28, 2011]

Article 123 Deleted. <Aug. 4, 2005>

Article 124 Deleted. <Aug. 4, 2005>

Article 125 Deleted. <Aug. 4, 2005>

Article 126 Deleted. <Aug. 4, 2005>

Article 127 Deleted. <Aug. 4, 2005>

Article 128 Deleted. <Aug. 4, 2005>

Article 129 Deleted. <Aug. 4, 2005>

Article 130 Deleted. <Aug. 4, 2005>

Article 131 Deleted. <Aug. 4, 2005>

Article 132 Deleted. <Aug. 4, 2005>

Article 133 Deleted. <Aug. 4, 2005>

Article 134 Deleted. <Aug. 4, 2005>

Article 135 (Allowance and Compensation for Actual Expenses for Election Campaign Workers)

(1)

The election campaign manager, chief of the election campaign liaison office, election campaign worker, assistant and accountant in charge (hereafter in this Article referred to as "election campaign manager, etc.") may be paid an allowance and actual expenses: Provided, That if a salaried staff member of a political party, or a member of the National Assembly and assistant, chief secretary or secretary thereof, or a member of a local council concurrently holds the post of election campaign manager, etc., only the actual expenses may be compensated, and an election campaign manager, etc. reported as a candidate shall not be paid an allowance and actual expenses from the beginning day of the application for candidate registration to a day before the beginning day of the election period. <Amended on Feb. 16, 2000; Jan. 25, 2010; Jul. 28, 2011>

(2)	The kinds and amounts of allowances and actual expenses provided in paragraph (1) shall be prescribed by the National Election Commission Regulations.

(3)

No one may offer, or manifest the intention to offer, money and goods or other benefits, or promise, instruct, solicit, mediate, demand or receive such offer, in connection with the election campaign, regardless of the title of such offer including allowance and actual expense, or other compensation for volunteers, etc. except in cases where he or she offers an allowance, actual expenses, and other benefits prescribed by this Act. <Amended on Feb. 6, 1996; Jan. 13, 1997; Nov. 14, 1997; Feb. 16, 2000>

(4)	Deleted. <Aug. 4, 2005>

(5)	Deleted. <Feb. 16, 2000>

[Title Amended on Jul. 28, 2011]

Article 135-2 (Restriction on Filling Election Expenses)

(1)

Every constituency election commission shall not, in filling the election expenses pursuant to this Act, fill the relevant expenses, in cases where the accountant in charge of the election office failed to submit the accounting report provided for in Article 40 of the Political Funds Act by the closing day of submission, without good cause. <Amended on Aug. 4, 2005>

(2)

Every constituency election commission shall not, where the candidate, preliminary candidate, election manager or accountant in charge of the election office committed the crimes provided for in this Act or Article 49 of the Political Funds Act, with respect to the relevant election, and the judgment of conviction was finalized, or where the expenses were disbursed in excess of the restricted amount of election expenses, fill the amount equivalent to two times the expenses required for the relevant offenses or those disbursed in excess of the restricted amount of election expenses. <Amended on Mar. 12, 2004; Aug. 4, 2005>

(3)

Notwithstanding paragraph (2), where a person who had received a donation from by a political party, a candidate (including a preliminary candidate) or his or her family member, a campaign manager, the head of an election liaison office, an election worker, a chief accountant or election speechmaker was punished by an administrative fine under Article 261 (9), the constituency election commission shall not fill the amount equivalent to five times the expenses incurred in the donation from the expenses to be compensated for under this Act. <Added on Feb. 29, 2008; Jan. 25, 2010; Feb. 13, 2014>

(4)

Where those provided for in paragraph (2) are indicted for committing any crime provided for in this Act or Article 49 of the Political Funds Act or accused by the election commission, the filling of the amount equivalent to two times the expenses incurred for the relevant offenses shall be deferred until the sentence is finalized. <Amended on Aug. 4, 2005; Feb. 29, 2008>

(5)

Every constituency election commission shall, where the ground for not filling the election expenses under paragraphs (1) through (3) is found after the filling thereof is made to the political party or candidate, notify the relevant political party or candidate of the relevant fact, and order the return of the amount equivalent to paragraphs (1) through (3) from among the filled expense amounts. In such cases, the political party or candidate shall return it to the relevant constituency election commission within 30 days from the date on which it or he or she receives the order for return. <Amended on Feb. 29, 2008>

(6)

The constituency election commission shall, where the political party or candidate has failed to return the relevant amount within the deadline under the latter part of paragraph (5), entrust the head of the competent tax office with its collection in cases of presidential election and a National Assembly election, and the head of the competent tax office shall collect it in the same manner as default national taxes are collected and pay to the State, and entrust the head of a local government with its collection in case of the election of local council members and the head of the local government, and the head of the local government shall collect in the same manner as default local taxes are collected and pay to the local government. <Amended on Feb. 29, 2008>

(7)	The calculation of expenses not to be filled and other necessary matters shall be prescribed by the National Election Commission Regulations. <Amended on Feb. 29, 2008>

[This Article Added on Feb. 16, 2000]

Article 136 Deleted. <Aug. 4, 2005>

Article 137 (Restriction on Newspaper Advertisement of Party Platform and Policies)

(1)

Where a political party intends to run any advertisement for the promotion of platform and policies of a political party, the recruitment of political party members and applicants for candidacy, membership dues or political fund-raising (limited to cases of presidential elections), or opinion gathering on slogans, design, policy and others to be used by a political party or party-nominated candidate during an election in newspapers under subparagraph 1 of Article 2 of the Act on the Promotion of Newspapers, etc., and periodicals under subparagraph 1 of Article 2 of the Act on Promotion of Periodicals, Including Magazines (hereafter in this Article referred to as "daily newspaper, etc.") at the time when an election is close at hand, it shall make such advertisement according to the following subparagraphs and shall not make such advertisement during the election period: <Amended on Dec. 30, 1995; Nov. 14, 1997; Mar. 12, 2004; Aug. 4, 2005; Jan. 25, 2010>

1.	Election due to the expiration of term:

It shall be made by the central party of a political party up to 70 times in total by means of a daily newspaper, etc. from 90 days before the election day to a day before the beginning day of the election period;

2.

An election, reelection (excluding a reelection provided in Article 197; hereafter in this paragraph, the same shall apply), or postponed election due to a presidential vacancy: It shall be made by the central party of a political party up to 20 times in total by means of a daily newspaper, etc. from the time when the cause for holding the election becomes final to a day before the beginning day of the election period;

3.	Special election, reelection, or postponed election other than those provided in subparagraph 2:

It shall be made by the central party of a political party up to 10 times in total by means of a daily newspaper, etc. from the time when the cause for holding the election becomes final to a day before the beginning day of the election period.

(2)

The size of one advertisement in a daily newspaper, etc. provided in paragraph (1) shall be 37 centimeters in width and 17 centimeters in length at the most, and the photograph, name (including particulars by which it is possible to analogize the name) of a person intending to be a candidate, and other contents leading to an election campaign, shall not be inserted therein.

(3)

The provisions of the latter part of Article 69 (1) (referring to frequency of advertisements), (2), (5), (8) and (9), shall apply mutatis mutandis to the advertisement to be run in a daily newspaper, etc. under paragraph (1). In such cases, "candidate" shall be deemed "political party". <Amended on Jan. 13, 1997; Apr. 30, 1998; Jan. 25, 2010>

Article 137-2 (Restriction on Broadcast Speech of Platform and Policy)

(1)	Where a political party conducts a broadcast speech for publicizing its platform and policies using a broadcast facility (referring to a broadcast facility under Article 70 (1); hereafter in this Article, the same shall apply) it shall be done within the following limit: <Amended on Mar. 12, 2004>

1.	Election due to the expiration of term:

It shall be done by the representative of the central party of a political party or a person designated by him, from among those eligible for the election campaigns, but from the first day of the month whereto 90 days prior to the election day belong, to the day immediately preceding the commending day of election period, within twice per month (once in cases where the day immediately preceding the beginning day of election period corresponds to less than 10 days of relevant month), within 20 minutes per time by televisions or radio broadcasts;

2.	Election, reelection (excluding the reelection under Article 197), or postponed election due to the presidential vacancy:

It shall be done by the representative of the central party of a political party or a person designated by him, from among those eligible for the election campaigns, up to five times by each television or radio broadcast respectively from the time when the reason for holding the election becomes final to a day before the beginning day of election period, within 10 minutes per time.

(2)

Where a broadcast speech is conducted using a television broadcast facility under paragraph (1), other contents than the figures of making a speech, names of political parties (including marks and symbols of the relevant parties), the outlines of speeches and statistics shall not be telecasted, and where intending to broadcast through video recording of broadcast speeches, the competent broadcast facility shall be used. <Amended on Jan. 25, 2010>

(3)	In case of making a broadcast speech under paragraph (1), the speech with contents leading to an election campaign shall not be made.

(4)

Expenses for a broadcast speech under paragraph (1) shall be borne by the relevant political party, but in cases where a political party which has formed a negotiation body in the National Assembly makes a broadcast speech using a public broadcasting company, the expenses for broadcast speeches (excluding those for producing) once per month conducted by each television and radio broadcast respectively at each public broadcasting company shall be borne by the relevant public broadcasting company. <Amended on Mar. 12, 2004>

(5)

Where intending to make a broadcast speech expenses of which shall be borne by a public broadcasting company under paragraph (4), date and time, time bands and other necessary matters for the relevant broadcast speech shall be determined under the consultation between the relevant public broadcasting company and the relevant political party.

(6)	The provisions of Article 70 (1) (latter part), (6), and (8) and Article 71 (10) and (12) shall be applicable mutatis mutandis to a broadcast speech under paragraph (1).

(7)	The forms of a written report on broadcast speech under paragraph (6) and other necessary matters shall be prescribed by the National Election Commission Regulations.

[This Article Added on Feb. 16, 2000]

Article 138 (Restriction on Distribution of Brochures on Platform and Policies)

(1)

As for the campaign material concerning the party platform and policies of a political party which may be distributed during the election period to party members of the constituency or electoral area for which a candidate is nominated, there shall be one type of booklet-type platform or brochures on policy produced by the central party of the political party. <Amended on Nov. 14, 1997>

(2)	The quantity of brochures on the platform and policies provided in paragraph (1) to be distributed shall not exceed the number of the party members of the constituency or electoral area for which a candidate is nominated. <Amended on Nov. 14, 1997>

(3)	When the brochures on the platform and policies provided in paragraph (1) are prepared and distributed, the phrase "for party members only" shall be indicated on the cover.

(4)	When a political party intends to distribute the brochures on platform and policies provided in paragraph (1), it shall submit two copies thereof to the National Election Commission and such copies may be substituted by electronic files. <Amended on Jan. 25, 2010>

(5)	No matters related to a candidate, other than the mark, name, photograph and career, etc. of a candidate nominated by the relevant party, shall be printed on the brochures of platform and policy under paragraph (1). <Amended on Jan. 25, 2010>

(6)

The campaign material concerning the party platform and policies referred to in paragraph (1) shall be prepared within 27 centimeters in length and 9 centimeters in width and within 16 sheets in cases of a presidential election and within eight sheets in cases of an election of constituency members of the National Assembly, an election of constituency members of local councils and an election of the heads of local governments, respectively. <Amended on Aug. 4, 2005>

Article 138-2 (Restrictions on Distribution of Policy Promise Collection)

(1)

When any political party intends to distribute its policy promise collection (referring to the collection that is published in the form of book; hereinafter referred to as "policy promise collection") in which its policies and campaign promises are described, the political party shall sell the policy promise collection in an ordinary manner: Provided, That the policy promise collection shall not be sold by means of door-to-door sales.

(2)

Every political party may sell its policy promise collections in its headquarters and open places where candidates nominated by the relevant political party deliver their campaign speeches and speaking places pursuant to Article 79, in addition to its sales made in an ordinary manner pursuant to paragraph (1). In such cases, when they are sold at the headquarters of a political party, they shall be sold in a method by which the fact of selling policy promise collections can be confirmed in public, such as installing a separate stand in an open place. <Amended on Feb. 29, 2008; Jan. 25, 2010>

(3)

When any political party intends to sell its policy promise collection pursuant to paragraphs (1) and (2), the political party shall immediately submit two copies of the policy promise collection to the competent election commission tasked with performing the clerical work involving the registrations of political parties provided for in the Political Parties Act, and such copies may be substituted by electronic files. <Amended on Jan. 25, 2010>

(4)	Matters related to candidates, including the marks, names, photographs, academic attainments and careers, etc. of candidates, and matters concerning their political parties shall be prohibited from being described in a policy promise collection.

(5)	The indication of the basis for compiling a policy promise collection, the submission thereof and other necessary matters shall be prescribed by the National Election Commission Regulations.

[This Article Added on Jan. 3, 2007]

Article 139 (Restrictions on Publication and Distribution of Party Organs)

(1)

A central party of a political party shall not publish and distribute a party organ during the election period in anything but a normal way: Provided, That where the frequency of publication in the ordinary cycle is fewer than twice during the election period, it may be published and distributed up to twice (including the enlarged edition, extras, temporary edition, and even where part of the contents inserted in is different from area to area where it is distributed, it shall be deemed identical). In such cases, issuance by a party branch other than the central party of a political party, distribution at the place of campaign speech or interview at an open place or the place of interview or debates, or selling, distribution, pasting, posting, or diffusion on the street, shall not be deemed distribution made in a normal way. <Amended on Mar. 12, 2004>

(2)	The party organ under paragraph (1) shall not contain other matters related to the publicity of a candidate than the mark, name, photograph, education, career, etc. of the candidate nominated by the relevant political party. <Added on Feb. 16, 2000>

(3)	A political party, upon publishing a party organ provided in paragraph (1), shall immediately submit two copies to the National Election Commission, and such copies may be substituted by electronic files. <Amended on Jan. 25, 2010>

Article 140 (Restriction on Holding and Announcing Rally for Formation of Political Parties)

(1)

A political party, where holding a rally for its formation, merger, or reorganization, or the election for selecting candidates (hereafter in this Article referred to as "political party formation rally, etc.") during the period from 120 days before the election day (in cases of a special election etc. whose reasons for holding have become definite after 120 days prior to the election day, the time when the reason for holding the said election has become definite) to the election day, shall hold it only with the party members (in cases of a rally for selection of candidates, including those who are not the party members having the voting right to select the candidate for an election of public officials of the relevant political party) at a place which is not an open place where the multitudes pass on, but any persons who are not members of the party may be invited in conformity with generally accepted social norms. <Amended on Mar. 12, 2004; Aug. 4, 2005>

(2)

A political party supervising a rally for party formation or others under paragraph (1) may put up five or fewer signs at the place where a rally for party formation is held, in addition to a public announcement inserted in a newspaper provided for in the provisions of Article 10 of the Political Parties Act. In such cases, the public announcement of the newspaper and sign shall not include a photograph and name (including particulars by which the name may be analogized) of the candidate (including the person who intends to be a candidate; hereafter in this paragraph, the same shall apply), or an advertisement of the candidate such as a promotional slogan. <Amended on Mar. 12, 2004; Aug. 4, 2005>

(3)

"Rally for ... reorganization" in paragraph (1) means an assembly such as the general meeting of party members or the meeting of representative organs which is held for dealing with a matter concerning structural reorganization in regard to party constitution or party regulations such as a change of the party representative, and "rally for election of a candidate" means an assembly which is held under Article 57-2 of the Political Parties Act for the election, by party branches at all levels, of the candidate nominated by the relevant political party for the election under this Act. <Added on Feb. 16, 2000; Aug. 4, 2005>

(4)	The signs provided in paragraph (2) shall be removed by the sponsor without delay after the relevant rally is finished. <Amended on Mar. 12, 2004>

Article 141 (Restriction on Rally of Party Members)

(1)

A political party (including the council of political party members) shall not hold a rally for training of party members (hereafter in this Article referred to as "party members' rally") within the election district in which an election is in progress, or subject to party members who are the constituents, regardless of any pretext such as solidarity, drill, training, education and others of party members from 30 days before the election day to the election day: Provided, That an interview temporarily held among party members for liaison, instruction, etc. as to the party affairs shall not be considered as a party members' rally. <Amended on Dec. 30, 1995; Feb. 16, 2000; Mar. 12, 2004; Jan. 25, 2010>

(2)

When a political party holds a party members' rally (excluding cases where a central party holds it at its training facility) from 90 days before the election day (in cases of a special election the holding reason of which has become definite after 90 days prior to the election day, from the time when the reason for holding the relevant election has become definite), it shall file a report thereon with the Gu/Si/Gun election commission having jurisdiction over the area of its holding, and thereafter hold it at the office of relevant political party, citizens' hall, public institution, office of an organization, other public facilities, or an open place which is not a place where the multitudes pass on. <Amended on Mar. 12, 2004; Jan. 25, 2010>

(3)

A political party subject to an allotment of subsidies under Article 27 of the Political Funds Act may gratuitously use for a place of party members' rally the citizens' hall, gymnasium or cultural center, which is owned or managed by the State or local governments (including the institutions referred to in Article 53 (1) 4 or 6) and other facilities or places where the multitudes may gather, under conditions stipulated by the National Election Commission Regulations. In such cases, when any property damages have occurred, such as the damage of installations or use of power, etc., the relevant political party shall make the compensations therefor. <Added on Mar. 12, 2004; Aug. 4, 2005>

(4)

The signs indicating that it is a party members' rally under this Act shall be posted or put up at the outside of the place for such a rally under paragraph (2), but its sponsor shall remove, without delay, them after the completion of relevant rally. In such cases, the said signs shall not indicate any photograph and name or promotional slogan of the person intending to become the candidate and any contents of advertising him or her. <Amended on Mar. 12, 2004>

(5)	Any manager of public facilities in receipt of an application for use under paragraph (3) shall not refuse the said use without good cause. <Added on Mar. 12, 2004>

(6)	A report on a party members' rally, or number of sheets of the signs and other necessary matters shall be stipulated by the National Election Commission Regulations. <Amended on Mar. 12, 2004; Jan. 25, 2010>

[Title Amended on Feb. 16, 2000]

Article 142 Deleted. <Mar. 12, 2004>

Article 143 Deleted. <Mar. 12, 2004>

Article 144 (Restriction on Recruitment of Party Members)

(1)

A political party shall not recruit members or distribute the forms of application for joining the political party during the election period: Provided, That if a rally for the formation or reorganization of a City/Do party is held, this shall not apply until the day when the rally is held. <Amended on Mar. 12, 2004>

(2)	Deleted. <Mar. 2, 2006>

Article 145 (Restriction on Promotional Materials to be Posted at Headquarters of Political Party)

(1)

A political party (excluding a political party that has an election campaign organization established in its office pursuant to Article 61 (1)) may, during an election period, install and put up signboards, tablets, or placards containing slogans and other contents necessary for public information about the political party, and the names of the relevant party branches, the name of its representative and matters concerning the mark, name, photograph and career, etc. of a candidate nominated by the relevant party, on the external walls or roofs of the party headquarters, as prescribed by the National Election Commission Regulations. <Amended on Jan. 25, 2010; Jan. 17, 2014>

(2)	The office of a supporters' association under the Political Funds Act may post signs, as prescribed by the National Election Commission Regulations. <Amended on Mar. 12, 2004; Aug. 4, 2005; Jan. 25, 2010; Jan. 17, 2014>

Article 146 (Methods of Elections)

(1)	An election shall be made by a vote marked on the ballot papers.

(2)

A vote shall be made in person or by mail, and one person shall be entitled to one vote; provided,, in a National Assembly election, an election of City/Do council members and an election of autonomous Gu/Si/Gun council members, it shall be one vote per person at each election of constituency members and of proportional representation members. <Amended on Mar. 7, 2002; Mar. 12, 2004; Aug. 4, 2005>

(3)	In voting, an eligible voter shall not indicate his or her name or anything by which he or she can be analogized.

[Paragraph (2) of this Article, which was determined to be inconsistent with the Constitution by the Constitutional Court on Jul. 19, 2001, was amended by Act No. 6663, Mar. 7, 2002.]

Article 146-2 (Officials in Charge of Voting Management and Officials in Charge of Early Voting Management)

(1)

Each Gu/Si/Gun election commission shall appoint one official in charge of voting management in each voting district and one official in charge of early voting management at each early voting polling station in order to have them carry out administrative affairs for voting. <Amended on Jan. 17, 2014>

(2)

Officials in charge of voting management and officials in charge of early voting management shall be commissioned from among public officials who work for the State or a local government or school employees, but officials in charge of early voting management may be appointed from among commissioned officials in charge of voting management. <Amended on Jan. 17, 2014>

(3)	Upon receipt of a request to recommend persons eligible for an official in charge of voting management or an official in charge of early voting management, the head of a state agency or local government or the head of a school shall comply with such request preferentially. <Added on Feb. 13, 2014>

(4)

Matters concerning the commissioning and dismissal of officials in charge of voting management and officials in charge of early voting management, allowances for such officials, and other necessary matters shall be prescribed by the National Election Commission Regulations. <Amended on Jan. 17, 2014; Feb. 13, 2014>

[This Article Added on Aug. 4, 2005]

[Title Amended on Jan. 17, 2014]

Article 147 (Establishment of Polling Stations)

(1)	Each Eup/Myeon/Dong election commission shall set up a polling station in every voting district under its jurisdiction by no later than the day before the election day. <Amended on Aug. 4, 2005>

(2)

A polling station shall be established at the schools within the voting districts, governmental offices, such as Eup/Myeon/Dong offices, etc., public institutions, offices of organizations, citizens' hall, and other places where the eligible voters may conveniently make their voting: Provided, That where there is no adequate place to establish a polling station in the relevant voting district, it may be established within other neighboring voting districts. <Amended on Mar. 12, 2004; Aug. 4, 2005>

(3)	When the heads of schools, public offices, public institutions and organizations have received a request for cooperation in the use of places for establishing the polling stations from the election commission, they shall preferentially comply therewith. <Added on Mar. 12, 2004>

(4)	A polling station shall not be established in a military camp and religious facilities: Provided, That the same shall not apply to religious facilities, when an appropriate place for polling stations cannot be found. <Amended on Jan. 25, 2010>

(5)	A polling station shall be provided with polling booths, voting boxes, seats for observers, and other facilities necessary for the management of voting. <Amended on Aug. 4, 2005>

(6)	A polling booth shall be installed in such a manner that other persons cannot peep into it, and shall have no marks.

(7)	A political party, candidate, election campaign manager, or chief of the election campaign liaison office may demand any correction to the installation of a polling station.

(8)

Upon installing polling stations provided in paragraph (1), the Eup/Myeon/Dong election commission shall publicly announce the names and seats of the polling stations by no later than 10 days before the election day: Provided, That if any natural disaster, terrestrial upheaval, or other inevitable reasons exist, the election commission concerned may change them, and in such cases, it shall immediately make a public announcement them to the eligible voters. <Amended on Aug. 4, 2005>

(9)	An Eup/Myeon/Dong election commission shall commission polling station staff to assist in administrative affairs, from among the following persons: <Amended on Feb. 16, 2000; Mar. 7, 2002; Mar. 12, 2004; Aug. 4, 2005; Jan. 3, 2007; Jan. 25, 2010; May. 17, 2010; Apr. 6, 2018>

1.

State public officials under Article 2 of the State Public Officials Act and local public officials under Article 2 of the Local Public Officials Act: Provided, That public officials in the occupational categories of correction, protection, prosecutorial affairs, narcotics investigation, immigration control and railroad police, from among public officials in general service in the occupational group of administrative service, public officials in extraordinary service other than educational public officials, and public officials in political service shall be excluded;

2.	Teachers and staff of schools of each level;

3.	Employees of banks under Article 2 of the Banking Act;

4.	Employees of the agencies provided in Article 53 (1) 4 through 6;

5.	Impartial and neutral persons who have an ability to assist the voting affairs.

(10)	Upon receipt of a request from an election commission to recommend polling station staff, the head of an institution or organization specified in any provision of paragraph (9) 1 through 4 shall comply with such request preferentially. <Added on Feb. 13, 2014>

(11)

Establishment of polling stations and facilities to ensure access to polling stations for the transportation vulnerable, such as the elderly, persons with disabilities and pregnant women; measures for designating suitable polling places; and other necessary matters shall be prescribed by the National Election Commission Regulations. <Amended on Apr. 6, 2018>

Article 148 (Establishment of Early Voting Polling Stations)

(1)

Each Gu/Si/Gun election commission shall establish and operate one early voting polling station for each Eup/Myeon/Dong under its jurisdiction (where a constituency is smaller than a district under the jurisdiction of the relevant Gu/Si/Gun, referring to the relevant constituency) for two days, starting five days before the election day (hereinafter referred to as “early voting period”): Provided, That additional early voting polling stations may be established and operated in the relevant area, in any of the following cases: <Amended on Dec. 24, 2015; Jan. 21, 2022>

1.	Where military units are concentrated within a district under the jurisdiction of an Eup/Myeon/Dong;

2.	Where the establishment, abolition, division or merger of Eups/Myeons/Dongs results in the reduction of the total number of Eups/Myeons/Dongs.

(2)

When a Gu/Si/Gun election commission establishes early voting polling stations pursuant to paragraph (1), it shall publicly announce the names and locations of the polling stations and the period of establishment and operation by not later than nine days before the election day, notify the manager of each election campaign office or the chief of each election campaign liaison office, and post the public announcement at five places in each voting district within its jurisdiction. The foregoing shall also apply where it is intended to change the place for the establishment of an early voting polling station.

(3)

Each Gu/Si/Gun election commission shall appoint polling station staff for early voting, from among the persons falling under any subparagraph of Article 147 (9) in order to have them serve as assistants in administrative affairs for voting in the early voting polling stations established pursuant to paragraph (1).

(4)

Article 147 (3) through (7), (10) and (11) shall apply mutatis mutandis with regard to the restrictions on places for the establishment of early voting polling stations, cooperation in providing such places, facilities, cooperation in recommending polling station staff for early voting, etc. <Amended on Feb. 13, 2014; Apr. 6, 2018>

(5)

The National Election Commission shall establish a telecommunications network exclusively for election for the use of the integrated official list of eligible voters at early voting polling stations, and shall take technical protective measures to prevent wrongful leak, forgery, alteration, deletion, etc. of information. <Added on Dec. 24, 2015; Mar. 26, 2021>

(6)	Matters concerning the establishment, public announcement, and notification of early voting polling stations and the appointment of polling station staff for early voting, and other necessary matters shall be prescribed by the National Election Commission Regulations. <Amended on Dec. 24, 2015>

[This Article Wholly Amended on Jan. 17, 2014]

Article 149 (Polling Booths in Organizations or Facilities)

(1)

The head of any of the following institutions and facilities that accommodate persons reported for home voting under Article 38 (1) (hereafter in this Article referred to as “institutions and facilities”) shall report the name and location of the institution or facility, the number of persons reported for home voting, etc. to the competent Gu/Si/Gun election commission not later than three days after the end of the period for preparation of the official list of eligible voters:

1.	A hospital, sanitarium, asylum, prison, or detention center;

2.	A residential facility for persons with disabilities, as defined under Article 58 (1) 1 of the Act on Welfare of Persons with Disabilities.

(2)	Upon receipt of a report under paragraph (1), the competent Gu/Si/Gun election commission shall publicly announce the name and location of each institution or facility that accommodates persons reported for home voting, the number of persons reported for home voting, etc.

(3)	The head of an institution or facility that accommodates not less than 10 persons reported for home voting shall determine the date, time, and place for the installation of polling booths and shall install polling booths for the persons reported for home voting.

(4)

A candidate (in cases of a party-nominated candidate in a presidential election, referring to a political party that nominates him or her as a candidate; hereafter in this Article, the same shall apply) or the manager of an election campaign office or the chief of an election campaign liaison office may request the head of an institution or facility that accommodates less than 10 persons reported for home voting to install polling booths for home voting within two days after the date of public announcement under paragraph (2). In such cases, the head of such institution or facility shall comply with such request, unless there is a good cause to the contrary.

(5)

When the head of an institution or facility intends to install polling booths in accordance with paragraph (3) or (4), he or she shall report thereon to the competent Gu/Si/Gun election commission not later than two days before the scheduled date of installation of the polling booths, and the competent Gu/Si/Gun election commission shall make a public announcement thereof upon receipt of such report.

(6)	A candidate or the manager of an election campaign office or the chief of an election campaign liaison office may select one eligible voter to observe the polling process at the polling booths installed and operated by the head of an institution or facility.

(7)	The head of an institution or facility shall provide the place for the installation of polling booths, along with polling booths, chairs for observers, and other necessary facilities.

(8)	The form of the public announcement of the number of persons reported for home voting at an institution or facility and other necessary matters shall be prescribed by the National Election Commission Regulations.

[This Article Wholly Amended on Jan. 17, 2014]

Article 149-2 Deleted. <Jan. 17, 2014>

Article 150 (Order of Names of Political Parties and Candidates Printed on Ballot Papers)

(1)

The marks of candidates, names of political parties to which party-nominated candidates belong, and names of candidates shall be indicated on the ballot papers: Provided, That the independent candidates shall be indicated as "independent" in the column in which the names of political parties to which the party-nominated candidates belong are to be entered and in an election of proportional representation members of the National Assembly and an election of proportional representation members of local councils, the marks and names of the political parties which nominate the candidates shall be indicated. <Amended on Apr. 1, 1995; Feb. 16, 2000; Mar. 7, 2002; Mar. 12, 2004; Aug. 4, 2005>

(2)

The marks shall be indicated as figures such as "1, 2, and 3" in the order of political parties or candidates by which they are entered in the ballot papers, and names of political parties and candidates shall be entered in Hangeul: Provided, That if there are candidates whose names in Hangeul are same, the Chinese characters shall be entered together in parentheses. <Amended on Mar. 7, 2002>

(3)

In determining the printing order of candidates, a candidate who is nominated by a political party holding seats in the National Assembly as of the closing day of candidate registration shall be first, followed by a candidate who is nominated by a political party holding no seats in the National Assembly and then independent candidates, and in determining the printing order of political parties, a political party holding seats in the National Assembly as of the closing day of candidate registration shall be first, followed by that holding no seats in the National Assembly. <Amended on Apr. 1, 1995; Feb. 16, 2000; Mar. 7, 2002; Aug. 4, 2005>

(4)	A political party falling under any of the following subparagraphs shall be preferentially given nationally unified marks, in determining the printing order of political parties holding seats in the National Assembly under paragraph (3): <Amended on Jan. 25, 2010>

1.	A political party which has not less than five constituency members of the National Assembly;

2.

A political party which has won votes of not less than 3/100 of the total number of national valid ballots in the immediately preceding presidential election or the immediately preceding election of proportional representation members of the National Assembly or proportional representation members of local councils.

(5)	Where the competent constituency election commission determines the printing order of political parties or candidates under paragraph (3) and (4), it shall follow the following provisions: <Amended on Jan. 25, 2010>

1.

The printing order among political parties holding seats in the National Assembly as of a deadline for the registration of candidates or among candidates nominated by such political parties, shall follow the order of majority seat numbers in the National Assembly; Provided, That the printing order among not less than two political parties holding the same seats in the National Assembly shall follow the order of the number of the votes in the election of proportional representation members of the National Assembly, which is recently held;

2.	The printing order among political parties holding no seats in the National Assembly as of a deadline for the registration of candidates or candidates nominated by such political parties shall follow the Korean alphabetical order of the names of such political parties;

3.	The printing order among independent candidates shall follow the order determined by lottery of the competent constituency election commission.

(6)

Where two or more political parties or candidates fall into the same printing order in the case of paragraph (5), the competent constituency election commission shall determine it by lottery in the presence of the representatives of the relevant political parties, or candidates or their deputies, after the candidate registration is closed: Provided, That if a representative of the relevant political party, candidate or his or her deputy fails to participate in the lottery on time, the chairperson of the competent constituency election commission or the person designated by him or her may draw the lot on behalf of the political party or candidate. <Amended on Mar. 7, 2002; Jan. 25, 2010>

(7)

Where any political party nominates not less than two candidates in the same constituency for an election of constituency members of Gu/Si/Gun councils, the printing order of candidates nominated by such political party on ballot papers shall follow the order determined by the relevant political party, and when the relevant party fails to determine the order, the competent constituency election commission shall determine the order by lottery. In such cases, the printing order shall be indicated as 1-a, 1-b and 1-c, etc. <Added on Jan. 25, 2010>

(8)	Even when a candidate resigns or dies or his or her registration becomes nullified after the candidate registration period expires, such mark, the name of the political party, and his or her name shall not be crossed off the ballot papers. <Amended on Mar. 7, 2002; Jan. 25, 2010>

(9)	Where an additional registration provided in Article 51 is carried out in the presidential election, the printing order of a candidate of the political party to which he or she belongs shall take that of the party-nominated candidate that has been already determined. <Amended on Jan. 25, 2010>

(10)	A serial number shall be printed on each ballot paper. <Amended on Jan. 25, 2010>

[Title Amended on Mar. 7, 2002]

Article 151 (Preparation of Ballot Papers and Boxes)

(1)

Each Gu/Si/Gun election commission shall prepare and make ballot papers and boxes to deliver them to Eup/Myeon/Dong election commissions by the day before the election day and the Eup/Myeon/Dong election commissions shall, upon receiving them, turn over them to the officials in charge of voting management after keeping the ballot papers in the sealed state together with ballot boxes. <Amended on Aug. 4, 2005>

(2)	In the voting for one election, two ballot boxes shall not be used at the same time at each voting district, and by voting district. <Amended on Mar. 12, 2004>

(3)

The ballot boxes to be used at an early voting polling station (hereinafter referred to as "early voting ballot boxes") and the ballot boxes to be used for keeping ballot papers received by mail safe (hereinafter referred to as "mail ballot boxes") shall be prepared separately, but the number of such ballot boxes shall be determined by each Gu/Si/Gun election commission in consideration of the estimated number of early voters, the number of persons reported for home voting, and the number of persons reported for shipboard voting. <Amended on Jan. 17, 2014>

(4)	A ballot paper shall bear the official seal of the competent Gu/Si/Gun election commission as prescribed by the National Election Commission Regulations. In such cases, the official seal may be substituted by a printed seal.

(5)

When the Gu/Si/Gun election commission delivers ballot papers that it prints to the Eup/Myeon/Dong election commission that shall in turn keep them after sealing them and then turn over the sealed ballot papers together with ballot boxes to the officials in charge of voting management, the Gu/Si/Gun or Eup/Myeon/Dong election commission shall allow party-recommended members of the relevant election commission to observe a series of these courses. In such cases, if any party-recommended member fails to observe them, he or she shall be deemed to renounce his or her observation. <Amended on Aug. 4, 2005>

(6)

Notwithstanding paragraphs (1) and (5), the Gu/Si/Gun election commission shall instruct the official in charge of early voting management to produce ballot papers to be distributed at early voting polling stations with a ballot paper printer at early voting polling stations. In such cases, the serial numbers printed on the ballot papers shall be marked in the form of bar code (referring to a code marked in the shape of a bar for recognition by computer), and such bar code may contain no information other than the name of election, the name of constituency, and the name of the competent election commission and serial numbers. <Added on Jan. 17, 2014; Mar. 26, 2021>

(7)	When preparing ballot papers under paragraph (1) or (6), a space shall be inserted between each column of a political party or candidate, and the detailed preparation method shall be prescribed by the National Election Commission Regulations. <Added on Aug. 13, 2015>

(8)	If necessary for an eligible voter who is unable to record his or her vote in person due to a visual impairment, the Gu/Si/Gun election commission may make and use a special ballot paper or voting aid as prescribed by the National Election Commission Regulations. <Amended on Aug. 13, 2015>

(9)	Standards for ballot papers and boxes, the sealing, keeping and transferring of the ballot papers and other necessary matters shall be determined by the National Election Commission Regulations. <Added on Aug. 4, 2005; Aug. 13, 2015>

[Title Amended on Aug. 13, 2015]

Article 152 (Public Announcement of Ballot Paper Model)

(1)	Each Gu/Si/Gun election commission shall publicly announce the model of ballot paper not later than seven days before the election day. <Amended on Mar. 12, 2004>

(2)	The Gu/Si/Gun election commission, upon designating a printing office to print ballot papers, shall publicly announce, without delay, the name and seat of the printing office.

Article 153 (Mailing of Voting Information Notices)

(1)

Each Gu/Si/Gun election commission shall prepare voting information notices for each household, including the names of eligible voters, the registration number in the official list of eligible voters, the location of polling station, balloting hours, things that each eligible voter shall carry for voting, or other contents to invite such eligible voters to participate in the voting, and shall mail the notice to each household in the area under its jurisdiction by two days after the date on which the official list of eligible voters is finally determined. In such cases, voting information notices in braille shall be enclosed and sent to the households reported pursuant to Article 65 (7). <Amended on Aug. 4, 2005; Jul. 28, 2011; Jan. 17, 2014>

(2)	Postal charges needed to mail the voting information notice referred to in paragraph (1) shall be borne by the State or the relevant local government. <Amended on Aug. 4, 2005>

(3)	The voting information notice may be prepared by means of a computer system.

(4)	The form of and size for the voting information notice, and matters to be entered therein, procedure for mailing, and other necessary matters shall be prescribed by the National Election Commission Regulations.

[Title Amended on Jul. 28, 2011]

Article 154 (Mailing of Ballot Papers to Home Voters)

(1)

Each Gu/Si/Gun election commission shall put a ballot paper (hereinafter referred to as “ballot paper for home voting”) that shall be mailed to each eligible voter listed on the official list of reported home voters (hereinafter referred to as “home voter”) into an envelope for return with a bar code (referring to a code in the shape of a bar for recognition by computers, which shall contain records of place of residence and name of, the home voter and the registration number on the official list of eligible voters necessary for the acceptance of the home voting) marked thereon after cutting off the serial number of such ballot paper, put the envelope into another envelope for dispatch, seal the envelope in the presence of party-recommended members of the Gu/Si/Gun election commission, and then dispatch to the home voter by mail not later than 10 days before the election day. In such cases, a party-recommended member who fails to be present on time shall be deemed to renounce his or her right to witness the process. <Amended on Aug. 4, 2005; Feb. 29, 2012; Jan. 17, 2014>

(2)

Notwithstanding paragraph (1), the relevant Gu/Si/Gun election commission may resolve not to send a ballot paper for home voting to a person who made a misrepresentation in his or her report or whose report is not deemed to have been made of his or her own free will. In such cases, the resolution shall be entered in the records of mailing of ballot papers for home voting. <Amended on Jan. 17, 2014>

(3)

The Gu/Si/Gun election commission shall prepare a list of home voters to whom it resolved not to send a ballot paper for home voting under paragraph (2) and home voters whose ballot papers for home voting have been returned not later than two days before the election day and notify the list to the competent Eup/Myeon/Dong election commissions not later than the day immediately before the election day, and each Eup/Myeon/Dong election commission shall notify the list to the officials in charge of voting management without delay. <Amended on Aug. 4, 2005; Jan. 17, 2014>

(4)	Ballot papers for home voting shall be dispatched or returned by registered mail, but postal charges therefor shall be borne by the State or each local government. <Amended on Jan. 17, 2014>

(5)	The Gu/Si/Gun election commission shall enclose a letter informing of the voting method and other matters concerning the election with a ballot paper dispatched for home voting. <Amended on Jan. 17, 2014>

(6)	Specifications and descriptions of envelopes for dispatching and returning ballot papers for home voting and other necessary matters shall be prescribed by the National Election Commission Regulations. <Added on Aug. 4, 2005; Jan. 17, 2014>

[Title Amended on Jan. 17, 2014]

Article 154-2 (Transmission of Ballot Papers to Shipboard Voters)

(1)

Each Gu/Si/Gun election commission shall prepare ballot papers (hereinafter referred to as “ballot papers for shipboard voting”) that shall be dispatched to each eligible voter listed on the official list of reported shipboard voters (hereinafter referred to as “shipboard voter”) and transmit them by facsimile to the master of the ship (hereinafter referred to as “shipmaster”) with the shipboard voter on board, not later than nine days before the election day. In such cases, Article 154 (2) shall apply mutatis mutandis to shipboard voters who made a misrepresentation in his or her report or whose report is not deemed to have been made of his or her own free will. <Amended on Jan. 17, 2014>

(2)

In preparing ballot papers for shipboard voting, the competent Gu/Si/Gun election commission shall divide them into the front section and the voting section and shall put a blank for the identification of the eligible voter, the website address of the National Election Commission, from which the eligible voter can find information about political parties and candidates for the competent constituency, and matters regarding the method for shipboard voting on the front section.

(3)	Upon receipt of a ballot paper delivered for shipboard voting pursuant to paragraph (1), the shipmaster shall transfer it to the relevant shipboard voter immediately.

(4)	Specifications and descriptions of ballot papers for shipboard voting, the participation of party-recommended members in the course of dispatching ballot papers for shipboard voting, and other necessary matters shall be prescribed by the National Election Commission Regulations.

[This Article Added on Feb. 29, 2012]

Article 155 (Balloting Hours)

(1)

A polling station shall open at 6 a.m. and close at 6 p.m. (8 p.m. in special elections) on the election day: Provided, That if there are eligible voters waiting to vote at the polling station at the time it is closed, the number tickets shall be given to them and the polling station shall be closed after they finish voting. <Amended on Mar. 12, 2004>

(2)	An early voting polling station shall open at 6 a.m. and close at 6 p.m. every day during the early voting period. In such cases, the proviso of paragraph (1) shall apply mutatis mutandis to an early voting polling station. <Amended on Oct. 2, 2012; Jan. 17, 2014; Feb. 13, 2014>

(3)

The officials in charge of voting management, upon beginning the voting, shall inspect whether the ballot box, inside and outside of the polling booths are normal, and the voting observer shall be present at this time: Provided, That if the voting observer fails to be present at the time when the voting begins, they shall require the eligible voter who comes first to cast his or her vote to witness such inspection. <Amended on Aug. 4, 2005>

(4)

Prior to the commencement of voting at an early voting polling station, the official in charge of early voting management shall inspect the ballot box and polling booths for early voting to make sure that there is no problem, and early voting observers shall be present at the scene of such inspection: Provided, That if there is no early voting observer present at the time of commencement of early voting, the eligible voter who first arrives in the polling station to vote shall be required to be present at the scene of such inspection. <Amended on Aug. 4, 2005; Jan. 25, 2010; Jan. 17, 2014>

(5)	Votes cast in early voting, home voting, or shipboard voting shall arrive at the competent Gu/Si/Gun election commission by 6 p.m. (8 p.m. in special elections) on the election day. <Amended on Mar. 12, 2004; Jan. 17, 2014>

[Paragraph (2) of this Article, which was determined to be inconsistent with the Constitution by the Constitutional Court on Feb. 23, 2010, is amended by Act No. 11485, Oct. 2, 2012.]

Article 156 (Restriction on Voting)

(1)	A person who is not listed on the official list of eligible voters shall not vote: Provided, That a person may vote, appearing with a notice to the effect that there exist justifiable reasons provided for in Article 41 (2), 42 (2), or 43 (2).

(2)	Even though a person is listed on the official list of eligible voters, he or she shall not vote if he or she has no right to vote on the election day.

(3)	A home voter shall vote at his or her place of residence in accordance with Article 158-2: Provided, That any of the following persons may vote at the relevant polling station on the election day: <Amended on Jan. 25, 2010; Jan. 17, 2014>

1.	A person to whom a ballot paper for home voting has not been dispatched because he or she falls under Article 154 (2);

2.	A person who has not received a ballot paper for home voting because the ballot paper was returned;

3.	A person who fails to vote with the ballot paper that he or she received for home voting but who returns the ballot paper for home voting, along with the envelope for return, to the official in charge of voting management at the relevant polling station on the election day.

(4)

When a home voter votes at the relevant polling station on the election day under the proviso of paragraph (3), the official in charge of voting management shall verify and identify the voter with the official list of eligible voters or the list of home voters notified pursuant to Article 154 (3) and record the fact in the column for notes in the official list of eligible voters. <Added on Jan. 25, 2010; Jan. 17, 2014>

Article 157 (Procedure for Receiving and Recording Ballot Papers)

(1)

An eligible voter shall go, in person, to a polling station, and shall present his or her resident registration card (referring to a certificate with a photograph attached thereto, which is issued by a government office or public agency, such as a passport, driver's license or public official identification card, or other identification cards prescribed by the National Election Commission Regulations, to identify such person, if the person does not have a resident registration card; hereinafter referred to as "identification card") in the presence of voting observers, and shall, after the identification is confirmed, affix his or her signature or seal or thumbmark to the official list of eligible voters, and then shall receive a ballot paper. <Amended on Jul. 28, 2011>

(2)

When the officials in charge of voting management issue ballot papers to the eligible voters on the election day, they shall cut off a serial number paper in the presence of the said eligible voters and then issue them to the eligible voters after affixing his or her private seal in the column of private seal affixing, but if deemed necessary, they may issue them after affixing his or her private seal within the limit of 100 sheets in advance. <Amended on Apr. 30, 1998; Mar. 12, 2004; Aug. 4, 2005>

(3)	The officials in charge of voting management shall not issue a ballot paper to the eligible voter who fails to present his or her identification card. <Amended on Aug. 4, 2005>

(4)

An eligible voter, after receiving the ballot paper, shall enter a polling booth, select one candidate (referring to one political party in an election of proportional representation members of the National Assembly and an election of proportional representation members of local councils), from among those entered in the ballot paper, make a mark in the corresponding column of the ballot paper, fold the ballot paper on the spot so that other persons cannot see the contents, and then put it in the ballot box in the presence of the voting observers. <Amended on Mar. 7, 2002; Mar. 12, 2004; Aug. 4, 2005>

(5)	If the ballot paper is damaged or spoiled after issued to an eligible voter for any reason attributable to him or her, no new ballot paper shall be issued.

(6)

An eligible voter may enter a polling station (in cases of a child who is a primary school pupil, excluding the polling booth) along primary school pupil or younger child within the limit of not impeding the order of the polling station, and one who is unable to record his or her vote for himself/herself due to a visual or physical impairment may be accompanied by his or her family or two persons nominated by him or her to assist in his or her voting. <Amended on Feb. 16, 2000; Mar. 12, 2004>

(7)	Except as provided for in paragraph (6), two or more persons shall not enter the same polling booth at the same time.

(8)	Methods of sealing and delivering ballot papers and procedures for marking on ballot papers and other necessary matters shall be determined by the National Election Commission Regulations. <Amended on Aug. 4, 2005>

[Title Amended on Jul. 28, 2011]

Article 158 (Early Voting)

(1)	Any eligible voter (excluding home voters and shipboard voters) may vote at an early voting polling station during the early voting period.

(2)

An eligible voter who intends to vote in early voting shall present his or her identification card at an early voting polling station to have his or her identity verified and then imprint his or her thumbmark or affix his or her signature electronically to receive a ballot paper. In such cases, the National Election Commission shall save part of his or her identification card as an electronic image file to verify the fact that a ballot paper has been issued to the relevant eligible voter and shall keep it until the closing hour of balloting. <Amended on Aug. 13, 2015>

(3)

The official in charge of early voting management shall print ballot papers for the relevant election with a ballot paper printer, affix his or her seal on the blank for “official in charge of early voting management”, and give a ballot paper to an eligible voter without cutting off the serial number, along with an envelope for return.

(4)

Upon receipt of a ballot paper and an envelope for return, an eligible voter shall enter a polling booth, choose one candidate (referring to one political party in cases of an election of proportional representation members of the National Assembly or an election of proportional representation members of local councils), put a mark in the corresponding column of the balloting paper, fold it on the spot so that no one can see the balloting, put it into the envelope for return, seal it, and then put the envelope into the early voting ballot box.

(5)	Notwithstanding paragraphs (3) and (4), the official in charge of early voting ballot box management may elect not to give an envelope for return to an eligible voter in an area specified by the National Election Commission Regulations.

(6)

The official in charge of early voting management shall transfer ballot papers after the closing of early voting each day during the early voting period or after the end of the early voting period, in the presence of early voting observers, in accordance with the following procedures: <Amended on Feb. 13, 2014; Mar. 26, 2021>

1.

If ballot papers have been given for voting along with an envelope for return in accordance with paragraph (3) or (4), the early voting ballot box shall be opened, the number of early voters shall be counted, and then ballot papers shall be transferred to the competent postmaster to dispatch the ballot papers by registered mail. In such cases, the official in charge of early voting management shall designate an early voting observer for each candidate and accompany him or her to the relevant post office; and where the early voting observer refuses accompanying the official without good cause, his or her authority shall be deemed to have been waived and the grounds therefor shall be entered in the voting records;

2.

If an envelope for return has not been given for voting in accordance with paragraph (5), the relevant early voting ballot box shall be transferred directly to the competent Gu/Si/Gun election commission. In such cases, Article 170 shall apply mutatis mutandis to the delivery of early voting ballot boxes.

(7)	Article 157 (3) and (5) through (7) shall apply mutatis mutandis to where a ballot paper is not given and the entry to a polling station.

(8)	The procedures for early voting when a problem occurs to a telecommunications system and other necessary matters shall be prescribed by the National Election Commission Regulations.

[This Article Wholly Amended on Jan. 17, 2014]

Article 158-2 (Home Voting)

A home voter shall choose one candidate (referring to one political party in cases of an election of proportional representation members of the National Assembly or an election of proportional representation members of local councils), put a mark in the corresponding column of the balloting paper received from the competent Gu/Si/Gun election commission, put the ballot paper into the envelope for return, seal the envelope, and then dispatch the envelope by registered mail.

[This Article Added on Jan. 17, 2014]

[Previous Article 158-2 moved to Article 158-3 <Jan. 17, 2014>]

Article 158-3 (Shipboard Voting)

(1)

A shipmaster shall set the date and time to vote on shipboard, taking into consideration the number of shipboard voters and circumstances in operation, during a period between eight and five days before the election day (hereinafter referred to as "period for shipboard voting"), and shall install a shipboard voting place. In such cases, a shipmaster shall notify shipboard voters, without delay, of the date and time to vote shipboard and the place where a shipboard voting place is installed. <Amended on Aug. 13, 2015>

(2)	When a shipmaster installs a shipboard voting place, he or she shall prepare equipment for transmitting shipboard votes by facsimile after voting while ensuring the secrecy of shipboard voter’s votes.

(3)

A shipmaster shall appoint one or more fair and impartial citizens of the Republic of Korea to attend as observers while voting shipboard is going on, from among seafarers who are on board the ship: Provided, That the foregoing shall not apply where only one citizen of the Republic of Korea is on board the ship.

(4)

A shipmaster shall put his or her signature in the blank for signature on the ballot paper brought for shipboard voting by a shipboard voter to the shipboard voting place under paragraph (1) along with the observers specified in the main clause of paragraph (3) (hereinafter referred to as “observers”). In such cases, a ballot paper already filled in before being brought to the shipboard voting place for casting shall be collected and shall be sealed in a separate envelope.

(5)

A shipboard voter to whom a ballot paper is delivered pursuant to paragraph (4) shall put his or her signature in the blank for confirmation by the eligible voter, fill in the blank for one candidate (referring to one political party in cases of an election of proportional representation members of the National Assembly) chosen by him or her on the ballot paper, and then transmit it directly to the competent City/Do election commission by facsimile installed at the shipboard voting place.

(6)	A shipboard voter who has finished transmitting his or her shipboard vote pursuant to paragraph (5) shall seal it in an envelope by himself/herself and submit it to the shipmaster.

(7)

After completing shipboard voting on a ship, the shipmaster shall sort out the envelopes of shipboard votes submitted pursuant to paragraphs (6) and the envelopes of shipboard votes under the latter part of paragraph (4) with observers present at the scene, put them into a package, affix his or her and observers’ seals on the package, and then keep the package safely.

(8)

Upon completion of shipboard voting on a ship, the shipmaster shall prepare the record of the management of shipboard voting, transmit the record by facsimile to the City/Do election commission having jurisdiction over the seat of the regional maritime affairs and port office responsible for the management of the original ship register of the relevant ship (referring to the place of registration of the relevant shipping company, if the ship is a bareboat chartered under the condition that the ship shall acquire the nationality of the Republic of Korea, or the seat of the regional maritime affairs and port office with which the relevant ship management business is registered, if the ship has a foreign nationality) by not later than the day immediately before the election day and shall submit the record of the management of shipboard voting and the envelopes that he or she has kept pursuant to paragraph (7) to the competent City/Do election commission immediately upon arrival in the Republic of Korea. In such cases, such record and envelopes may be submitted from a foreign country by international mail even before the ship arrives in the Republic of Korea.

(9)	A City/Do election commission shall install a technical device in the facsimile machine for receiving shipboard votes pursuant to paragraph (5) to ensure the secrecy of voting.

(10)

A City/Do election commission shall cut the front section of each shipboard vote received pursuant to paragraph (5) to put it into an envelope, attach the front section to the envelope with its seal affixed thereon, and then send it to the Gu/Si/Gun election commission having jurisdiction over the address of the relevant shipboard voter. If it is impossible to identify who is the eligible voter who cast a shipboard vote, such shipboard vote shall be sealed in an envelope and shall be kept safely with a cover stating the reason therefor.

(11)	A City/Do election commission shall keep records of receipt and dispatch of shipboard ballot papers in the register of management of shipboard ballot papers.

(12)	A Gu/Si/Gun election commission shall receive shipboard ballot papers sent by the competent City/Do election commission and shall put them into a mail ballot box by the closing time of voting on the election day.

(13)

A shipboard voter who arrives in the Republic of Korea before the commencement date of the period for shipboard voting may vote at the polling station installed at the voting district having jurisdiction over his or her domicile after filing a report with the competent Gu/Si/Gun election commission, accompanied with documents prescribed by the National Election Commission Regulations. In such cases, a person who has received in advance a ballot paper for shipboard voting on board the relevant ship shall return the same ballot paper when he or she files a report with the competent Gu/Si/Gun election commission. <Added on Aug. 13, 2015>

(14)

The procedure for shipboard voting, technical requirements for facsimile for ensuring the secrecy of voting, preparation and submission of the records of management of shipboard voting and the register of management of shipboard ballot papers, procedure for voting by shipboard voters who arrive in the Republic of Korea before the commencement date of the period for shipboard voting, and other necessary matters shall be prescribed by the National Election Commission Regulations. <Amended on Aug. 13, 2015>

[This Article Added on Feb. 29, 2012]

[Moved from Article 158-2; previous Article 158-3 Deleted <Jan. 17, 2014>]

Article 159 (Method of Marking on Ballot)

An eligible voter, upon putting a mark on the ballot paper, shall use the marking device on which the mark "" is carved: Provided, That a home voter who votes at his or her place of residence (including shipboard voting) may put the mark "○". <Amended on Feb. 29, 2012>

Article 160 Deleted. <Aug. 4, 2005>

Article 161 (Voting Observation)

(1)	The officials in charge of voting management shall have the voting observers witness the ballot paper issuing and the balloting. <Amended on Aug. 4, 2005>

(2)

The voting observers shall be selected by a political party, a candidate, the election manager or the chief of the election campaign liaison office in proportion of two persons for each candidate by polling station and a written report thereon shall be sent to the Eup/Myeon/Dong election commission by two days before the election day. <Amended on Aug. 4, 2005>

(3)

Voting observers shall be comprised of eight persons for every polling station, but if the number of persons selected and reported under paragraph (2) exceeds eight, those designated by the Eup/Myeon/Dong election commission by lottery shall be the observers: Provided, That if observers are not selected or the number of selected and reported persons is fewer than four, those who are selected up to four persons by the Eup/Myeon/Dong election commission shall be the observers upon consenting, from among eligible voters residing in the Gu/Si/Gun having jurisdiction over the relevant voting district. <Amended on Mar. 12, 2004; Aug. 4, 2005; Jan. 25, 2010>

(4)

Where the Eup/Myeon/Dong election commission designates voting observers under paragraph (3), one person for each candidate shall be first selected, if the number of candidates exceeds eight, and thereafter eight of them shall be designated by lottery; if the number of candidates is fewer than eight but the number of persons selected and reported by the candidates exceeds eight, those selected as per one for each candidate shall be first designated, and thereafter the remaining number shall be filled by lottery. <Amended on Aug. 4, 2005; Jan. 25, 2010>

(5)

The political party, candidate, election campaign manager, or chief of the election campaign liaison office may, if necessary, replace a voting observer whom he or she has selected, at any time after reporting it to the Eup/Myeon/Dong election commission and may, on the election day, report the replacement at the polling station. <Amended on Aug. 4, 2005>

(6)	A voting observer selected by the Eup/Myeon/Dong election commission under the proviso of paragraph (3) shall not refuse being an observer or resign his or her position without a justifiable reason. <Amended on Aug. 4, 2005>

(7)	A person who is not a national of the Republic of Korea, or a minor, or the person who falls under any subparagraph of Article 18 (1) or who falls under any subparagraph of Article 53 (1), a candidate or a spouse of candidate shall not become a voting observer. <Amended on Mar. 12, 2004>

(8)

Where the officials in charge of voting management deem it necessary for smooth management of voting, they may have the voting observers witness the voting in shifts. In such cases, they shall have them witness the voting by turns, one half of the number of observers at a time by political party and candidate. <Amended on Mar. 12, 2004; Aug. 4, 2005>

(9)	The officials in charge of voting management shall provide the voting observers with seats at a place where they can easily see the ballot paper issuing and the voting. <Amended on Aug. 4, 2005>

(10)	No voting observer shall interfere with the voting, solicit the voting, or conduct any act of having an effect on the election in any way.

(11)

Where a voting observer finds an interference with the voting, unlawful voting, or other things in violation of the provisions of this Act, and demands the correction thereof, the officials in charge of voting management shall correct them if the demand is deemed justifiable. <Amended on Aug. 4, 2005>

(12)	If any accident occurs in a polling station, a voting observer may take a photograph of the voting situation.

(13)	Deleted. <Feb. 16, 2000>

(14)	The form of the voting observer report and other necessary matters shall be prescribed by the National Election Commission Regulations.

Article 162 (Early Voting Observation)

(1)

An official in charge of early voting management shall permit early voting observers to observe the polling process and to accompany him or her, under Article 158 (6) 1, through a series of processes until the ballot papers are turned over to the competent postmaster. <Amended on Jan. 17, 2014; Mar. 26, 2021>

(2)

A political party, a candidate, an election campaign manager, or the chief of an election campaign liaison office shall select two early voting observers for each candidate for each early voting polling station and shall report on the selection in writing to the competent Gu/Si/Gun election commission not later than seven days before the election day, but may replace the observers with other persons at any time after reporting, as necessary, and may report on such replacement at an early voting polling station during the early voting period. <Amended on Jan. 17, 2014>

(3)

If there is no early voting observer selected in accordance with paragraph (2) or if there are early voting observers selected only by a candidate, the competent Gu/Si/Gun election commission may select early voting observers to fill the vacancies to the extent that the number of observers reaches four persons, from among eligible voters, with the eligible voters’ consent thereto. <Amended on Aug. 4, 2005; Jan. 17, 2014>

(4)

Article 161 (6) through (12) shall apply mutatis mutandis to early voting observers. In such cases, "Eup/Myeon/Dong election commission" shall be construed as "competent Gu/Si/Gun election commission", "official in charge of voting management" as "official in charge of early voting management", and "voting observer" as "early voting observers". <Amended on Feb. 16, 2000; Aug. 4, 2005; Jan. 25, 2010; Jan. 17, 2014; Aug. 13, 2015>

(5)	The form of the report on early voting observers and other necessary matters shall be prescribed by the National Election Commission Regulations. <Amended on Jan. 17, 2014>

[Title Amended on Jan. 17, 2014]

Article 163 (Restriction on Access to Polling Stations)

(1)	No one shall enter a polling station, except for an eligible voter, voting observer, official in charge of voting management, the members and employees of the Eup/Myeon/Dong election commission and the superior election commission, and polling station staff. <Amended on Aug. 4, 2005>

(2)

A member and employee of an election commission, official in charge of voting management, polling station staff of an election commission and voting observer shall, upon entering or leaving a polling station, wear or attach the mark prescribed by the National Election Commission Regulations, and shall not wear or attach anything else in relation to the election other than the mark provided for in this provision. <Amended on Aug. 4, 2005>

(3)	The mark provided for in paragraph (2) shall not be transferred or conceded to another person.

(4)	Paragraphs (1) through (3) shall apply mutatis mutandis to the restriction on entry into early voting polling stations (including places where polling booths are installed in accordance with Article 149). <Amended on Jan. 17, 2014>

Article 164 (Maintenance of Order in Polling Stations)

(1)

Where it is deemed impossible to hold a fair election due to serious disturbance of the order at a polling station, officials in charge of voting management or polling station staff may request for assistance to a police officer in uniform or the chief of a police station to maintain the order at a polling station. <Amended on Aug. 4, 2005>

(2)	Any police officer or chief of a police station, upon receiving a request for assistance provided for in paragraph (1), shall immediately comply therewith.

(3)

Any police officer or chief of a police station who enters the polling station in receipt of request under paragraph (1) shall follow the instructions of officials in charge of voting management and when order is restored or the officials in charge of voting management request, he or she shall immediately withdraw from the polling station. <Amended on Aug. 4, 2005>

(4)

Paragraphs (1) through (3) shall apply mutatis mutandis to the maintenance of order in early voting polling stations. In such cases, "official in charge of voting management" shall be construed as "official in charge of early voting management", and “polling station staff” as “polling station staff for early voting”. <Amended on Jan. 17, 2014>

Article 165 (Prohibition of Carrying Arms and Deadly Weapons)

(1)	Except as provided in Article 164 (1), no person shall carry a weapon, deadly weapon, or explosive into a polling station.

(2)	Paragraph (1) shall apply mutatis mutandis to the prohibition against carrying a weapon or deadly weapon into an early voting polling station (including places where polling booths are installed in accordance with Article 149). <Amended on Jan. 17, 2014>

Article 166 (Prohibition of Noisy Speeches and Behaviors Inside and Outside of Polling Stations)

(1)

If a person makes a noisy speech or behavior or makes a speech or behavior supporting or opposing a specific political party or candidate within 100 meters from the polling station, officials in charge of voting management or polling station staff shall restrain it, and if he or she refuses complying therewith, he or she shall be compelled to withdraw from the polling station or beyond the restricted distance. In such cases, the officials in charge of voting management or polling station staff, if necessary, may request for assistance to a police officer in uniform or the chief of a police station. <Amended on Aug. 4, 2005>

(2)

Any eligible voter who is compelled to withdraw from a polling station under paragraph (1) shall vote after all others: Provided, That officials in charge of voting management, if deeming that there is no possibility that the eligible voter disturbs the order of the polling station, may have him or her vote even before all others. <Amended on Aug. 4, 2005>

(3)	No one shall carry any mark that may have an effect on the election, such as wearing an armband and breastband, except where he or she wears or attaches a mark provided for in Article 163 (2).

(4)	Article 164 (2) and (3) shall apply mutatis mutandis to the prohibition of a noisy speech and behavior inside and outside a polling station.

(5)

Paragraphs (1) through (4) shall apply mutatis mutandis to the prohibition, etc. of noisy speeches and behaviors inside and outside of early voting polling stations. In such cases, the “official in charge of voting management” shall be construed as “official in charge of early voting management”; “polling station staff” as “polling station staff for early voting”; and “on election day” as “inside of an early voting polling station”. <Amended on Jan. 17, 2014>

Article 166-2 (Prohibition of Photographing Ballot Papers)

(1)	No one shall photograph ballot papers in a polling booth.

(2)

If an eligible voter photographs a ballot paper inside a polling booth, the official in charge of voting management or the official in charge of early voting management shall confiscate photographs from the eligible voter and shall enter the reasons therefor in the voting records. <Amended on Jan. 17, 2014>

[This Article Added on Jan. 25, 2010]

Article 167 (Ensuring Secrecy of Voting)

(1)	The secrecy of voting shall be ensured.

(2)

No eligible voter is obligated to disclose the name of the candidate for whom he or she has voted or the name of the political party to any one or in any case, and no one may ask it or demand an eligible voter to state it until the voting hours are closed on the election day: Provided, That where a TV or radio broadcasting station or daily newspaper under items (a) and (b) of subparagraph 1 of Article 2 of the Act on the Promotion of Newspapers, etc. asks questions, by means of not infringing on the secrecy of voting, in order to forecast the result of the election, at a distance of 50 meters from the polling station, this shall not apply, and in such cases, the details and result thereof may not be published until the last minute of the voting hours. <Amended on Dec. 30, 1995; Feb. 16, 2000; Mar. 12, 2004; Aug. 4, 2005; Jan. 25, 2010; Feb. 29, 2012>

(3)	An eligible voter shall not make the ballot paper on which he or she has recorded his or her vote open to the public, and any disclosed ballot paper shall become nullified.

Article 168 (Closing and Sealing Ballot Boxes)

(1)

Any official in charge of voting management shall shut the entry of the polling station at the predetermined time to close the polling station, and when the eligible voters in the polling station finish voting, he or she shall close and seal the slots of the ballot box and the locks thereof in the presence of voting observers: Provided, That if a member refuses to witness the voting without good cause, he or she shall be considered to have waived his or her competence to do so, and the fact thereof shall be stated in the voting record. <Amended on Aug. 4, 2005>

(2)	The keys to the ballot box, and remaining ballot papers and number papers shall be sealed under paragraph (1).

Article 169 (Preparation of Voting Records)

Officials in charge of voting management shall make voting records, and register their names thereon and affix their signatures or seals thereto. <Amended on Jul. 28, 2011>

[This Article Wholly Amended on Aug. 4, 2005]

Article 170 (Sending Ballot Boxes)

(1)	Any official in charge of voting management shall send the ballot box, keys thereof, voting record, and remaining ballot papers to the competent Gu/Si/Gun election commission, without delay after voting is closed. <Amended on Aug. 4, 2005>

(2)	The ballot box, when being sent under paragraph (1), shall be accompanied by one voting observer for each candidate and up to two police officers in uniform required for the escort. <Amended on Aug. 4, 2005: Mar. 12, 2010>

Article 171 (Handing Over Documents Related to Voting)

Any official in charge of voting management shall, upon closing the voting, hand over the official list of eligible voters and all other documents related to the election to the chairperson of the competent Gu/Si/Gun election commission. <Amended on Aug. 4, 2005>

Article 172 (Management of Ballot Counting)

(1)	The ballot-counting affairs shall be carried out by a Gu/Si/Gun election commission.

(2)

Where two or more counting centers are set up pursuant to Article 173 (2), the members of the relevant Gu/Si/Gun election commission shall be equally designated and posted at each counting center; the matters to be resolved by the relevant Gu/Si/Gun election commission with respect to the ballot-counting under this Act shall be determined by a resolution of a majority of members posted at the relevant counting center (including the assistant members under Article 4 (13) of the Election Commission Act; hereafter in this Chapter, the same shall apply); the duties of the chairperson of the relevant Gu/Si/Gun election commission shall be performed by the relevant chairperson or vice-chairperson, or the member designated by the chairperson, respectively. <Added on Feb. 16, 2000; Aug. 4, 2005>

(3)

A majority of the registered members of the relevant Gu/Si/Gun election commission (referring to the members posted at the relevant counting center, where two or more counting centers are set up under Article 173 (2)) shall be present at the counting center after the ballot counting begins. <Amended on Dec. 30, 1995; Feb. 16, 2000>

(4)	Articles 4 (13) and 5 (4) of the Election Commission Act shall apply mutatis mutandis to the election where two or more counting centers are set up. <Added on Feb. 16, 2000; Aug. 4, 2005>

Article 173 (Counting Centers)

(1)

A Gu/Si/Gun election commission shall publicly announce the counting center to be established in the seat of the relevant Gu/Si/Gun office or its territorial jurisdiction (including other adjacent districts, if there is no appropriate place in the competent district) by no later than five days before the election day: Provided, That if any natural disaster, terrestrial upheaval, or other unavoidable reason exists, it may be changed, and in such cases, it shall be publicly announced immediately. <Amended on Apr. 30, 1998>

(2)	A Gu/Si/Gun election commission may set up two or more counting centers. <Added on Feb. 16, 2000>

(3)	Article 147 (3) shall apply mutatis mutandis to the counting center. <Added on Mar. 12, 2004>

(4)	Procedures for and methods of ballot-counting where two or more counting centers are set up, and other necessary matters shall be prescribed by the National Election Commission Regulations. <Added on Feb. 16, 2000>

Article 174 (Counting Staff)

(1)	A Gu/Si/Gun election commission shall appoint counting staff to assist in ballot-counting affairs. <Amended on Apr. 6, 2018>

(2)	Counting staff shall be commissioned from among the persons falling under Article 147 (9) 1 through 4 or the impartial and neutral persons. <Amended on Mar. 12, 2004>

(3)	Upon receipt of a request from an election commission to recommend counting staff, the head of an institution or organization specified in any provision of Article 147 (9) 1 through 4 shall comply with the request preferentially. <Added on Feb. 13, 2014>

(4)	Deleted. <Mar. 12, 2004>

Article 175 (Commencement of Ballot Counting)

(1)	Deleted. <Mar. 12, 2004>

(2)	Where two or more constituencies exist in the extent of jurisdiction, the Gu/Si/Gun election commission shall count the ballots by the unit of constituency. <Amended on Feb. 16, 2000; Mar. 12, 2004>

Article 176 (Receipt of Delivered Early Votes, Home Votes, and Shipboard Votes and Counting thereof)

(1)

Upon receipt of early votes, home votes, and shipboard votes delivered by mail, a Gu/Si/Gun election commission shall immediately put them into mail ballot boxes in the presence of the party-recommended members of the Gu/Si/Gun election commission and keep them safe. <Amended on Aug. 4, 2005; Jan. 17, 2014>

(2)

Upon receipt of early voting ballot boxes transferred in accordance with Article 158 (6) 2, a Gu/Si/Gun election commission shall inspect the closing and sealing of the ballot boxes in the presence of the party-recommended members of the Gu/Si/Gun election commission and keep them safe. <Added on Jan. 17, 2014>

(3)

The ballot boxes delivered by mail as referred to in paragraph (1) and the early voting ballot boxes as referred to in paragraph (2) shall be kept in places where visual data processing devices defined in subparagraph 7 of Article 2 of the Personal Information Protection Act are installed, and the relevant visual data shall be kept until six months elapse from the relevant election day.<Added on Mar. 26, 2021>

(4)

The ballot boxes delivered by mail as referred to in paragraph (1) and the early voting ballot boxes as referred to in paragraph (2) may be transferred to the counting center at or after 6 p.m. (8 p.m. in special elections) on the election day and may be opened for ballot counting, in the presence of counting observers, separately and ahead of opening and counting from ballot papers in ordinary ballot boxes. <Amended on Apr. 30, 1998; Mar. 12, 2004; Jan. 17, 2014>

(5)	Matters necessary for, among other things, installing visual data processing devices and keeping ballot boxes shall be prescribed by the National Election Commission Regulation. <Added on Mar. 26, 2021>

[Title Amended on Jan. 17, 2014]

Article 177 (Opening of Ballot Boxes)

(1)

When ballot boxes are opened, the chairperson of the Gu/Si/Gun election commission shall open those ballot boxes after checking the closing and sealing of the ballot boxes in the presence of counting observers: Provided, That where any counting observer refuses to witness the ballot counting without good cause, the chairperson of the Gu/Si/Gun election commission shall enter the good cause in the ballot counting record after judging that the counting observer renounces his or her authority to witness the ballot counting. <Amended on Aug. 4, 2005>

(2)

The chairperson of the Gu/Si/Gun election commission shall count the number of votes after opening the ballot box, and check it with the number of issued ballot papers entered in the voting record. In such cases, if any of the members delays the ballot-counting affairs without good cause, he or she shall be deemed to renounce his or her authority and the fact thereof shall be entered in the ballot-counting record.

Article 178 (Proceeding of Ballot Counting)

(1)	The ballot counting and the calculation of votes shall proceed under classifications by voting district. <Amended on Mar. 7, 2002>

(2)

In order to make it easier to count ballot papers, a Gu/Si/Gun election commission may sort ballot papers into valid votes and invalid votes or sort ballot papers for each candidate (referring to a political party in cases of an election of proportional representation members of the National Assembly or an election of proportional representation members of local councils) or may use machines or electronic computer systems necessary for computing. <Added on Jan. 17, 2014>

(3)

The number of the votes obtained by each candidate (referring to the number of votes obtained by each political party, in an election of proportional representation members of the National Assembly or an election of proportional representation members of local councils; hereafter in this Article, the same shall apply) shall be announced by the chairperson of a Gu/Si/Gun election commission in the voting district unit on the basis of the ballot-counting briefing chart totalized and prepared by voting district, but all the members of the Gu/Si/Gun election commission who are present shall inspect the number of votes obtained before it is announced publicly and affix their signatures or seals to the ballot-counting briefing chart: Provided, That if any of the members delays ballot counting without good cause, he or she shall be deemed to renounce his or her authority, and the fact thereof shall be stated in the ballot-counting records. <Amended on Mar. 7, 2002; Mar. 12, 2004; Aug. 4, 2005; Jul. 28, 2011; Jan. 17, 2014>

(4)	No one shall report the number of votes obtained by each candidate, referred to in paragraph (3), before it is officially announced: Provided, That this shall not apply where data about ballot counting are reported as provided by an election commission. <Amended on Mar. 7, 2002; Jan. 17, 2014>

(5)	The procedure for ballot counting, the form of the ballot-counting briefing chart, and other necessary matters shall be prescribed by the National Election Commission Regulations. <Amended on Jan. 17, 2014>

[Title Amended on Jul. 28, 2011]

Article 179 (Invalid Votes)

(1)	Any of the following votes shall be nullified: <Amended on Mar. 7, 2002; Mar. 12, 2004; Aug. 4, 2005; Aug. 13, 2015>

1.	Where the regular ballot paper is not used;

2.	Where no mark is put in any column;

3.	Where the marks are put over two columns or in two or more columns;

4.	Where it is impossible to distinguish a column in which the mark is put;

5.	Where the mark "" is not put, but a character or a shape of something else is drawn;

6.	Where other matters than the mark "" are entered;

7.	Where the mark is put in with an aid other than such marking device as provided by the election commission.

(2)	In early voting or home voting, any of the following votes shall be invalid, in addition to those specified in paragraph (1): <Amended on Feb. 16, 2000; Aug. 4, 2005; Feb. 29, 2012; Jan. 17, 2014>

1.	A vote not returned in an official envelope;

2.	A vote returned in an unsealed envelope;

3.	Deleted; <Aug. 4, 2005>

4.	Deleted. <Jan. 17, 2014>

(3)	In shipboard voting, any of the following votes shall be also invalid, in addition to those invalid under paragraph (1): <Added on Feb. 29, 2012; Jan. 17, 2014>

1.	A vote transmitted by facsimile with a number different from the facsimile number stated in the relevant shipboard voting report or a vote transmitted by facsimile with an unidentifiable number;

2.	Votes transmitted in addition to the vote initially received through the normal process, where two or more votes have been transmitted by one eligible voter;

3.	A vote on which the signature of the eligible voter, shipmaster, or observer is omitted (excluding a vote with no observer’s signature thereon, if no observer was present pursuant to the proviso of Article 158-3 (3));

4.	A vote with the name of a candidate or a political party or with a description, from which such name can be inferred, written on the front section.

(4)	A vote shall not be determined as invalid in any of the following cases: <Amended on Feb. 16, 2000; Aug. 4, 2005; Feb. 29, 2012; Jan. 17, 2014>

1.	Where the mark "" is shown partially, or the inside of the mark "" is filled up, and it is obvious that the mark is made using such marking device as provided by the election commission;

2.

Where not less than two marks are put in the column of one candidate (referring to a political party in an election of proportional representation members of the National Assembly and an election of proportional representation members of local councils; hereafter in this paragraph, the same shall apply);

3.	Where the mark is additionally put on other than the column of the candidate and that the additional mark is not deemed to be put in the column of any candidate either;

4.	Deleted; <Aug. 13, 2015>

5.	Where the mark is transcribed, but it is obvious for whom the mark is put in;

6.	Where it is stained or damaged by the seal-ink, but it is obvious that it is the regular ballot paper and for whom it is put;

7.

In cases of home voting (including shipboard voting), where the mark is made in a way [excluding where it may be possible to see who has made the vote, because the person has affixed a seal (excluding thumb impression) or written the name] other than the method as prescribed by this Act, and it is obvious for whom the mark is put in;

8.	Where the envelope for return use on which the name or place of residence is written or the private seal is affixed;

9.	Where a home voter or shipboard voter dies after voting but before voting begins on the election day, the relevant home voting or a shipboard voting;

10.	An eligible voter’s vote, where the eligible voter who cast his or her vote at an early voting polling station dies before voting begins on the election day.

[Title Amended on Aug. 13, 2015]

Article 180 (Decision on Objection against Effect of Votes)

(1)	If there is any objection raised against the effect of a vote, the Gu/Si/Gun election commission shall decide on it with a majority of all the registered members present and by a concurrent vote of a majority of members present. <Amended on Dec. 30, 1995>

(2)	In deciding the effect of a vote, the intention of the relevant eligible concerned shall be respected.

Article 181 (Observation of Counting)

(1)	A Gu/Si/Gun election commission shall have the counting observers witness the counting in the counting center.

(2)

In the election held in the area under jurisdiction of the Gu/Si/Gun election commission, the political party nominating a candidate and an independent candidate shall select six and three counting observers referred to in paragraph (1), respectively, and report in writing to the relevant Gu/Si/Gun election commission so as to have them witness the election, no later than two days before the election day; and the counting observer may be replaced at any time after the report, and on the ballot counting day, he or she may be replaced and reported at the counting center. <Amended on Apr. 1, 1995; Feb. 16, 2000; Mar. 12, 2004; Aug. 4, 2005; Apr. 6, 2018>

(3)

If there is no report on the counting observer as provided for in paragraph (2) or there is only the counting observer selected by one political party or one candidate, those who are selected up to 12 (six in an election of constituency members of autonomous Gu/Si/Gun councils (nine where there are only counting observers selected by one political party)) by the Gu/Si/Gun election commission from among the eligible voters with their own consent, shall be the counting observers. <Amended on Apr. 1, 1995; Mar. 12, 2004; Aug. 4, 2005; Jan. 17, 2012>

(4)	A counting observer selected by the Gu/Si/Gun election commission as provided for in paragraph (3) shall not refuse serving as the observer or resign his or her post without good cause.

(5)

Notwithstanding paragraphs (2) and (3), the Gu/Si/Gun election commission may select additional counting observers within 20/100 of the number of counting observers that a political party or candidate can report under paragraph (2) at the request of eligible voters, taking into consideration the place for counting of votes, number of eligible voters, etc., and have them witness the ballot-counting. <Added on Aug. 13, 2015>

(6)	The counting observer may witness the procedure for handing over and taking over the ballot box sent from the voting district, inspect the closure and sealing of the ballot box, and witness the management thereof. <Amended on Aug. 13, 2015>

(7)	The Gu/Si/Gun election commission shall provide the counting observers with seats so as to witness the proceeding of the ballot counting at a near distance (not less than one meter nor more than two meters) enough to identify the contents of the ballot counting. <Amended on Aug. 13, 2015>

(8)	Where a counting observer finds any illegal matter concerning the ballot counting and demands the correction thereof, the Gu/Si/Gun election commission shall correct it if the demand is deemed justifiable. <Amended on Aug. 13, 2015>

(9)

A counting observer may, at any time, go round the counting center to watch or take a photograph of the ballot-counting situation, and install telephones, computers and other communication equipment at such places as designated by the chairperson of the Gu/Si/Gun election commission in the counting center or the general spectators' gallery, and use such equipment to inform a candidate or political party of the ballot-counting proceeding. <Amended on Aug. 13, 2015>

(10)

Where deemed necessary for a smooth management of the ballot counting, the Gu/Si/Gun election commission may have the ballot observers witness the ballot counting by turns. In such cases, the said observers shall be allowed to witness the ballot counting in shifts of one half of the number of observers by the political parties and by candidates. <Amended on Mar. 12, 2004; Aug. 13, 2015>

(11)	None of the following persons shall be a counting observer: <Amended on Aug. 13, 2015>

1.	A person who is not a national of the Republic of Korea;

2.

A minor;

3.	A person who falls under any subparagraph of Article 18 (1);

4.	A person who falls under any subparagraph of Article 53 (1).

(12)	The form of the report on counting observers, and other necessary matters shall be prescribed by the National Election Commission Regulations.

[Title Amended on Aug. 13, 2015]

Article 182 (Observation of Ballot Counting)

(1)	Any person may observe the proceeding of ballot counting at a demarcated place with a spectator ticket issued by the Gu/Si/Gun election commission.

(2)	The number of the spectator tickets as provided for in paragraph (1) shall be decided in consideration of the place for counting of votes and the tickets shall be distributed equally to each candidate.

(3)	The Gu/Si/Gun election commission shall provide installations necessary for maintaining the order of the general spectators' gallery.

Article 183 (Restriction on Access to, and Maintenance of Order in, Counting Centers)

(1)

No one other than members and employees of a Gu/Si/Gun election commission and its superior election commission, counting staff, assistant staff for counting, and counting observers may enter the counting center: Provided, That where a person with a spectator ticket, and news gathering personnel and a reporter of the broadcast, newspaper or wire service enter the general spectators' gallery, the same shall not apply. <Amended on Mar. 7, 2002>

(2)

The members and employees of an election commission, counting staff, assistant staff for counting, and counting observers, when entering and leaving the counting center, shall wear or attach a mark as prescribed by the National Election Commission Regulations, and shall not transfer or concede the mark to another person. <Amended on Mar. 7, 2002>

(3)

The chairperson or members of the Gu/Si/Gun election commission, where deemed that the order of the counting center is seriously disturbed and thereby it is impossible to proceed with fair ballot counting, may request the assistance of a police officer in uniform or the chief of a police station to maintain the order of the counting center.

(4)	A police officer or the chief of a police station, upon receiving the request for assistance as provided for in paragraph (3), shall immediately comply therewith.

(5)

The police officer or the chief of the police station who enters the counting center at the request as provided for in paragraph (3) shall follow the instructions of the chairperson of the Gu/Si/Gun election commission, and when the order is restored or the chairperson requests, he or she shall immediately withdraw from the counting center.

(6)	Except as provided for in paragraph (3), no one shall carry any arms, deadly weapons or explosives into a counting center.

Article 184 (Sorting Ballot Papers)

When the ballot counting is closed, opened ballot papers shall be sorted out for valid and invalid ones for each voting district, and the valid ballot papers shall be re-sorted for each candidate (referring to a political party which has nominated a candidate to run in an election of proportional representation members of the National Assembly and for an election of proportional representation members of local councils), put into a separate envelope for each candidate, and then sealed by the chairperson of the Gu/Si/Gun election commission. <Amended on Mar. 7, 2002; Mar. 12, 2004; Aug. 4, 2005; Jan. 25, 2010>

Article 185 (Preparation of Ballot-Counting Record, Totalization Record, and Election Record)

(1)

Each Gu/Si/Gun election commission shall immediately announce the results of the ballot counting, prepare the ballot-counting record, and send it to the competent constituency election commission (the City/Do election commission, in cases of a presidential election and in an election of proportional representation members of the National Assembly). <Amended on Mar. 12, 2004>

(2)

The competent constituency election commission, upon receiving the ballot-counting record under paragraph (1), shall, without delay, calculate and announce the number of votes obtained by each candidate (referring to a political party in an election of proportional representation members of local councils) and prepare the election record. <Amended on Apr. 1, 1995; Feb. 16, 2000; Mar. 7, 2002; Mar. 12, 2004; Aug. 4, 2005>

(3)

The City/Do election commission, upon receiving the ballot-counting record under paragraph (1), shall calculate and announce the number of votes obtained by each candidate in cases of a presidential election and the number of votes obtained by each political party in cases of an election of proportional representation members of the National Assembly, prepare the totalization record, and send it to the National Election Commission. <Amended on Mar. 12, 2004>

(4)

The National Election Commission, upon receiving the totalization record under paragraph (3), shall calculate and announce the number of votes obtained by each candidate in cases of a presidential election, and the number of votes obtained by each political party in cases of an election of proportional representation members of the National Assembly, and prepare the election record. <Amended on Feb. 16, 2000; Mar. 12, 2004>

(5)

The chairperson and all the members present shall register their names on the ballot-counting record, totalization record and election record, and shall affix their signatures or seals thereto: Provided, That if any of the members refuses signing and sealing without good cause, he or she shall be deemed to renounce his or her authority and the fact thereof shall be stated in the ballot-counting record, totalization record and election record. <Amended on Jul. 28, 2011>

(6)	The forms of the ballot-counting record, totalization record and election record, and other necessary matters shall be prescribed by the National Election Commission Regulations.

[Title Amended on Jul. 28, 2011]

Article 186 (Keeping Ballot Papers, Ballot-Counting Records, and Election Records)

Each Gu/Si/Gun election commission shall keep the ballot papers, ballot boxes, voting records, ballot-counting records, election records, and all other documents related to the election during the term of the elected candidates; the City/Do election commission shall keep the totalization records and the election records and all other documents related to the election; the National Election Commission shall keep the election records and all other documents related to the election: Provided, That where no dispute over the election under in Articles 219, 222 and 223 arises or is pending, the recordkeeping period may be shortened as prescribed by the National Election Commission Regulations. <Amended on Apr. 1, 1995; Feb. 16, 2000; Mar. 7, 2002>

Article 187 (Decision on, Public Announcement and Notification of Elected Candidate for President)

(1)

In a presidential election, the National Election Commission shall decide the candidate who has obtained a majority of the valid votes as the elected candidate, and notify the Speaker of the National Assembly thereof: Provided, That where there is only one candidate, he or she shall be decided as the elected candidate only when he or she obtains votes from 1/3 or more of the total eligible voters.

(2)

Where two or more persons have obtained the largest votes, the National Assembly, upon receiving the notification of the National Election Commission, shall decide the candidate who has obtained a majority of votes at an open meeting at the National Assembly with at least half the total members present as the elected candidate.

(3)

When the elected candidate is decided as provided in paragraph (1), the chairperson of the National Election Commission shall publicly announce it, and when he or she is decided as provided in paragraph (2), the Speaker of the National Assembly shall do so, and without delay deliver the certificate for winning the election to the elected candidate.

(4)

Even if the ballot counting is not completed due to a natural disaster, terrestrial upheaval, or other unavoidable reasons, the National Election Commission may decide the elected candidate where it is deemed that the votes of the area where the ballot counting is not completed shall have no influence on the election result.

Article 188 (Decision on, Public Announcement and Notification of Elected Constituency Members of the National Assembly)

(1)

In an election of constituency members of the National Assembly, the constituency election commission shall decide the person who has obtained a majority of the valid votes in the relevant constituency for electing a member to the National Assembly as the elected candidate: Provided, That if two or more persons have obtained the largest votes, the senior shall be decided as the elected candidate.

(2)

Where there is only one candidate for the constituency member of the National Assembly at the time the candidate registration is closed or the number of candidates becomes one as the candidate for the constituency member of the National Assembly resigns or dies or his or her registration becomes nullified from the close of candidate registration till right before the beginning of the voting on the election day, the voting for the candidate for the constituency member of the National Assembly shall not be held and the candidate shall be decided as the elected candidate on the election day.

(3)

Where the number of candidates for the constituency member of the National Assembly becomes one because other candidates have resigned or died or their registration become nullified from the beginning of the voting to the close thereof on the election day, the remaining voting shall not proceed and the candidate shall be decided as the elected candidate.

(4)

Where the candidate for the constituency member of the National Assembly has resigned or died or his or her registration is nullified after the close of the voting on the election day till before the decision of the elected candidate, the person who has obtained a majority of the valid votes as a result of the ballot counting shall be decided as the elected candidate, but the person who has resigned or died or whose registration is nullified has obtained a majority of the valid votes, the constituency for electing a member to the National Assembly shall be considered to have no elected candidate.

(5)	Where the voting is not conducted as provided in paragraphs (2) and (3), the relevant constituency election commission shall publicly announce it, without delay, and report it to the superior election commission, and notify the subordinate election commission thereof.

(6)

When the elected candidate for a constituency for electing a member to the National Assembly is decided as provided in paragraphs (1) through (4), the chairperson of the relevant constituency election commission concerned shall publicly announce it, deliver, without delay, the certificate for winning the election to the elected candidate, and report to the superior election commission thereof.

(7)	The provisions of Article 187 (4) shall apply mutatis mutandis to the decision on the elected candidate as the constituency member of the National Assembly.

Article 189 (Allocation of Seats of Proportional Representation Members of the National Assembly and Decision on, and Public Announcement and Notification of, Elected Candidates)

(1)	The National Election Commission shall allocate the seats of proportional representation members of the National Assembly to any of the following political parties (hereafter in this Article referred to as “seat-allocated party”): <Amended on Jan. 14, 2020>

1.	A political party which has obtained at least 3/100 of the total valid votes nationwide in an election of proportional representation members of the National Assembly held at the expiration of their terms of office;

2.	A political party which has won at least five seats in the election of constituency members of the National Assembly held at the expiration of their terms of office.

(2)	The seats of proportional representation members of the National Assembly shall be distributed to each seat-allocated party as follows: <Amended on Jan. 14, 2020>

1.

The number of seats to be distributed to each seat-allocated party (hereafter in this Article, referred to as “number of proportionally distributed seats”) shall be computed by rounding off the value calculated by the following formula to the nearest tenth. In such cases, where the number of proportionally distributed seats is less than 1, it shall be deemed 0:

Number of proportionally distributed seats = [(Fixed number of members of the National Assembly - Number of the elected constituency members of the National Assembly who were not nominated by seat-allocated parties) x Percentage of votes obtained by the relevant party in the election of proportional representation members of the National Assembly - Number of the elected constituency members of the National Assembly of the relevant party] ÷ 2

2.

Where the sum of the numbers of proportionally distributed seats by political party under subparagraph 1 falls short of the fixed number of seats of proportional representation members of the National Assembly, the number of remaining seats to be distributed to each seat-allocated party (hereafter in this Article referred to as “number of remaining distributed seats”) shall be computed by the following formula; and in such cases, an integral number of seats shall be allotted first and the remaining seats shall be distributed one by one to each seat-allocated party in descending order of the number after the decimal point, and when the said number is equal, the seats shall be distributed by lot among the relevant political parties:

Number of remaining distributed seats = (Fixed number of seats of proportional representation members of the National Assembly - Sum of the numbers of proportionally distributed seats by political party) x Percentage of votes obtained in the election of proportional representation members of the National Assembly

3.

Where the sum of the numbers of proportionally distributed seats by political party under subparagraph 1 exceeds the fixed number of seats of proportional representation members of the National Assembly, the number computed by the following formula (hereafter in this Article referred to as “number of adjusted seats”) shall be calculated as the seats of each political party to which proportionally distributed seats are allocated, notwithstanding subparagraphs 1 and 2. In such cases, the latter part of subparagraph 2 shall apply mutatis mutandis to the calculation method.

Number of adjusted seats = Fixed number of seats of proportional representation members of the National Assembly x Number of proportionally distributed seats ÷ Sum of the numbers of proportionally distributed seats by political party

(3)

The percentage of votes obtained in the election of proportional representation members of the National Assembly under paragraph (2) shall be calculated by dividing the number of votes obtained by each seat-allocated party by the total sum of votes obtained by all seat-allocated parties. <Amended on Jan. 14, 2020>

(4)

The National Election Commission shall determine the candidates elected to proportional representation members of the National Assembly allocated to a political party, in the order of becoming the elected candidates listed in the submitted roll of candidates for proportional representation members of the National Assembly by political parties.

(5)	If the number of the seats of proportional representation members of the National Assembly allocated to a political party exceeds the number of candidates for proportional representation members of the National Assembly nominated by the party, the seats in excess shall be left vacant.

(6)

Where the causes for the revoting under Article 198 have occurred in an election of proportional representation members of the National Assembly, the National Election Commission shall determine the elected candidates by allocating the seats of proportional representation members of the National Assembly pursuant to paragraphs (1) through (4), after deducting from the fixed number of seats of proportional representation members of the National Assembly an integral number (a fraction falling short of 1 shall be regarded as 1) of the number obtained by multiplying the fixed number of seats of proportional representation members of the National Assembly by the number derived from dividing the number of eligible voters in the relevant voting district by the number of nationwide eligible voters: Provided, That where it is expected that a seat-allocated party will be added as a result of the revoting, the seats of an integral number (a fraction falling short of 1 shall be regarded as 1) equivalent to 3/100 of the fixed number of seats of proportional representation members of the National Assembly shall be separately deducted for each political party that is expected to be added. <Amended on Jan. 14, 2020>

(7)

When the candidates elected to proportional representation members of the National Assembly have been determined, the chairperson of the National Election Commission shall publicly announce the said name list, and without delay notify each political party thereof, and deliver the certificate for winning the election to each elected candidate.

(8)	Article 187 (4) shall apply mutatis mutandis to the decision on the candidates elected to proportional representation members of the National Assembly.

[This Article Wholly Amended on Mar. 12, 2004]

[This Article, which was determined unconstitutional by the Constitutional Court made on July 19, 2001, was amended by Act No. 7189, March 12, 2004]

Article 190 (Decision on, Public Announcement and Notification of Elected Constituency Members of Local Councils)

(1)

In an election of constituency members of City/Do councils and autonomous Gu/Si/Gun councils, the constituency election commission shall decide the person who has obtained a majority of the valid votes in the relevant constituency (in an election of constituency members of autonomous Gu/Si/Gun councils, it refers to those who fill up the fixed number of the council members in the descending order from the person who has obtained the most valid votes; hereafter in this Article, the same shall apply) as elected candidate: Provided, That if two or more persons have obtained the most votes, the elected candidate shall be decided in the order of seniority. <Amended on Apr. 1, 1995; Feb. 16, 2000; Aug. 4, 2005>

(2)

Where the candidates do not exceed the fixed number of the council members to be elected in the relevant constituency at the time when the candidate registration is closed, or where the number of candidates becomes smaller than the fixed number of the council members to be elected in the relevant constituency from the close of candidate registration to the beginning of the voting on the election day as the candidates have resigned or deceased or their registrations are nullified, the voting shall not be held and the candidates shall be decided as the elected candidates on the election day.

(3)

Articles 187 (4) and 188 (3) through (6) shall apply mutatis mutandis to the decision on, public announcement and notification of the elected constituency members of local councils. In such cases, "candidates for constituency members of the National Assembly" means "candidates for constituency members of local councils"; "where the number of candidates becomes one" means "where the number of candidates becomes smaller than the fixed number of the council members"; and "constituency for electing a member to the National Assembly" means "election district". <Amended on Apr. 1, 1995; Feb. 16, 2000; Aug. 4, 2005>

(4)	Deleted. <Aug. 4, 2005>

(5)	Deleted. <Aug. 4, 2005>

(6)	Deleted. <Aug. 4, 2005>

(7)	Deleted. <Aug. 4, 2005>

(8)	Deleted. <Aug. 4, 2005>

(9)	Deleted. <Aug. 4, 2005>

[Title Amended on Aug. 4, 2005]

Article 190-2 (Decision on, and Public Announcement and Notification of, Elected Proportional Representation Members of Local Councils)

(1)

In an election of proportional representation members of local councils, the competent constituency election commission shall preferentially allocate the seats of the integral number calculated by multiplying the fixed number of proportional representation members of local councils by the ratio of votes obtained in the relevant election to each political party that obtains not less than 5/100 of the total number of valid votes (hereafter in this Article referred to as "seat-allocated political party") and allocate one remaining seat to each seat-allocated party in order of the large fraction number and when the same fraction number exists, the one remaining seat shall be allocated to the political party that obtains the larger number of votes and if the same number of votes are obtained, the allocation of the remaining seat shall be determined by lot between the relevant political parties. In the case, the ratio of votes obtained shall be calculated by dividing the number of votes obtained by each seat-allocated party by the total number of votes obtained by all seat-allocated parties and by rounding off 5 decimal point.

(2)

In an election of proportional representation members of City/Do councils, when not less than 2/3 of the fixed number of seats are allocated to any single political party, the integral number of seats which falls under 2/3 of the fixed number shall be first allocated to the political party and with respect to the remaining seats, the fixed number of seats whose number is obtained by the multiplication of the remaining seats by the ratio of votes obtained among remaining seat-allocated political parties shall be allocated to the remaining seat-allocated political parties and when remaining seats exist thereafter, one seat shall be allocated to the remaining seat-allocated political parties in order of the large fraction number: Provided, That in case where there is no seat-allocated political party other than the political parties that are allocated 2/3 of the fixed number of seats, the integral number of seats which is obtained by the multiplication of the remaining seats by the ratio of votes obtained by political parties that are not seat-allocated political parties shall be first allocated to such political parties and if remaining seats exist, one seat shall be allocated to each political party in order of large fraction number. In this case, the provisions of paragraph (1) shall apply mutatis mutandis to the calculation of the ratio of votes obtained and the allocation of seats in the case of the same fraction number.

(3)

In an election of proportional representation members of local councils, when grounds for revoting provided for in the provisions of Article 198 accrue, the competent constituency election commission shall allocate the seats of proportional representation members of local councils and determine elected candidates according to the provisions of paragraphs (1) and (2) after subtracting the fixed number that is obtained by the multiplication of the integral number (the fraction number of less than 1 shall be deemed 1) of proportional representation members of local councils by the number obtained by dividing the number of eligible voters of the voting district by the number of eligible voters of the relevant constituency from the fixed number of proportional representation members of local councils: Provided, That when it is expected to add a seat-allocated political party as a result of revoting from among political parties that are excluded from the allocation of the seats of proportional representation members of local councils, the integral number of seats falling under 5/100 (the fraction number of less than 1 shall be deemed 1) of the fixed number of proportional representation members of local councils shall be separately subtracted for every political party that is expected to be added.

(4)

Articles 187 (4) and 189 (4), (5), and (7) shall apply mutatis mutandis to the decision on the elected proportional representation members of local councils. In such cases, the "National Election Commission" shall be construed as the "competent constituency election commission" and "proportional representation members of the National Assembly" shall be construed as "proportional representation members of local councils," respectively. <Amended on Jan. 14, 2020>

[This Article Added on Aug. 4, 2005]

Article 191 (Decision on, Public Announcement and Notification of, Elected Heads of Local Governments)

(1)

In an election of the head of a local government, the constituency election commission shall decide the person who has obtained a majority of the relevant valid votes as the elected candidate, and notify the chairperson of the local council concerned thereof: Provided, That where two or more persons have obtained the largest votes, the senior shall be decided as the elected candidate.

(2)	Deleted. <Jan. 25, 2010>

(3)	Articles 187 (4) and 188 (2) through (6) shall apply mutatis mutandis to the decision on the elected head of a local government. <Amended on Jan. 25, 2010>

Article 191-2 (Report on Resignation of Elected Candidates)

Where an elected candidate intends to resign before the term of the elected candidate begins, he or she shall come in person to the competent constituency election commission and report such resignation in writing, and where an elected candidate in an election of proportional representation members of the National Assembly or an election of proportional representation members of local councils intends to resign, he or she shall affix a letter of approval on resignation from the political party to which he or she belongs.

[This Article Added on Jul. 28, 2011]

Article 192 (Invalidation of Election due to Forfeiture of Eligibility for Election)

(1)	No person who is ineligible for election on the election day shall be elected.

(2)	Where an elected candidate becomes ineligible for election before his or her term begins, the election shall be invalidated.

(3)	Where an elected candidate falls under any of the following before his or her term begins, his or her election shall be invalidated: <Amended on Apr. 1, 1995; Feb. 16, 2000; Aug. 4, 2005; Jan. 25, 2010; Mar. 12, 2010; Jan. 14, 2020; Dec. 29, 2020>

1.	Where the elected candidate is found to have won the election, in violation of paragraph (1);

2.	Where the elected candidate is found to fall under any ground for the nullification of registration under any subparagraph of Article 52 (1) or paragraphs (2) and (3) of that Article;

3.

Where the elected candidate as the proportional representation member of the National Assembly or the proportional representation member of a local council has seceded from his or her party or changed his or her party membership for reasons other than a merger, dissolution, or expulsion, or he or she holds two or more party memberships (including the person who has held two or more party memberships at the time the elected candidate is decided).

(4)

A proportional representation member of the National Assembly or a proportional representation member of a local council, where seceding from his or her party or changing his or her party membership for reasons other than a merger, dissolution, or expulsion, or holding two or more party memberships, shall be relieved of his or her office, notwithstanding Article 136 of the National Assembly Act or Article 90 of the Local Autonomy Act: Provided, That this shall not apply where a proportional representation member of the National Assembly has been elected to the Speaker, and strikes his or her name off the party register under the National Assembly Act. <Amended on Apr. 1, 1995; Feb. 16, 2000; Mar. 7, 2002; Aug. 4, 2005; May 11, 2007; Jan. 12, 2021>

(5)

In cases of paragraphs (2) and (3), the competent constituency election commission (the National Assembly, in cases where the National Assembly has decided on the candidate elected to presidency under Article 187 (2)) shall publicly announce the facts thereof and notify the elected candidate and the political party which has nominated him or her thereof, and shall notify the Speaker of the National Assembly thereof where the person whose election has been invalidated or nullified is the one elected to presidency or National Assembly membership, and the chairperson of the relevant local council thereof where the person is the one elected as the local council member and the head of the local government.

Article 193 (Correction of Errors in Decision on Elected Candidates)

(1)

Upon finding out that any obvious error exists in the decision on the elected candidate, the constituency election commission (the National Assembly, where the National Assembly has decided on the candidate elected to presidency under Article 187 (2)) shall correct the decision on the elected candidate within 10 days from the election day.

(2)

The constituency election commission (excluding the National Election Commission), upon making a correction under paragraph (1), shall be examined by the National Election Commission in cases of an election of constituency members of the National Assembly, an election of proportional representation members of City/Do councils, an election of constituency members of the Sejong City Council, and an election of Mayors/Do Governors; and by the City/Do election commission in cases of an election of constituency members of City/Do councils (excluding an election of constituency members of the Sejong City Council), autonomous Gu/Si/Gun council members, or the heads of autonomous Gus/Sis/Guns, respectively. <Amended on Apr. 1, 1995; Mar. 7, 2002; Aug. 13, 2015>

[Title Amended on Aug. 13, 2015]

Article 194 (Re-Decision on Elected Candidates and Reallocation of Seats of Proportional Representation Members of the National Assembly and of Proportional Representation Members of Local Councils)

(1)

If the judgment or decision on the invalidation of election for the reason of illegality in deciding the elected candidate under Articles 187, 188, 190 (1) through (3), or 191 becomes final, the relevant constituency election commission (the National Assembly, where the National Assembly has decided on the candidate elected to presidency as provided for in Article 187 (2)) shall, without delay, re-decide an elected candidate. <Amended on Mar. 7, 2002>

(2)

If there exists a judgment or a decision on the invalidity of election for the reason of illegality in allocating the seats of proportional representation members of the National Assembly or of proportional representation members of local councils and in deciding the elected candidates thereof under Articles 189 and 190-2, or if a reelection due to the reasons under Article 197 is held, the competent constituency election commission shall, without delay, reallocate the seats and re-decide elected candidates. <Amended on Feb. 16, 2000; Mar. 7, 2002; Aug. 4, 2005>

(3)

If the elected candidate in an election of proportional representation members of the National Assembly or proportional representation members of local councils has resigned or died, or his or her election becomes invalidated as provided for in Article 192 (2), or his or her election becomes nullified as provided for in Article 192 (3), before his or her term begins, the constituency election commission shall decide the candidate nominated by the political party to which the elected candidate belongs at the time of the election as the elected candidate, in the order of the candidates roll for the proportional representation members of the National Assembly or proportional representation members of local councils. <Amended on Apr. 1, 1995; Feb. 16, 2000; Aug. 4, 2005>

(4)

In an election of proportional representation members of the National Assembly or proportional representation members of local councils, when the revoting is held for the causes as referred to in Article 198, the constituency election commission shall compute the ratio of obtained votes by summing up the obtained votes in the initial election and those in the revoting, and allocate the remaining seats in the descending order obtained by deducting the number of seats allocated already to each political party from the number obtained by multiplying such ratio of obtained votes by the fixed number of seats of the relevant constituency, and then decide the elected candidates thereof. In such cases, Article 189 (1) through (5) shall apply mutatis mutandis to an election of proportional representation members of the National Assembly, and Article 190-2 to an election of proportional representation members of local councils. <Amended on Mar. 7, 2002; Mar. 12, 2004; Aug. 4, 2005; Jan. 14, 2020>

[Title Amended on Mar. 7, 2002; Aug. 4, 2005]

Article 195 (Reelection)

(1)	A reelection shall be held in any of the following cases: <Amended on Feb. 16, 2000; Mar. 7, 2002; Mar. 12, 2004; Aug. 4, 2005>

1.	Where there is no candidate for the relevant election district;

2.	Where there is no elected candidate, or in an election of constituency members of autonomous Gu/Si/Gun councils, the number of the elected candidates fails to reach the fixed number of the local council members to be elected in the relevant election district;

3.	Where the whole invalidation of the election is ruled or decided;

4.	Where the elected candidate has resigned or died before his or her term begins;

5.	Where the election becomes invalidated as provided for in Article 192 (2) or the election becomes nullified as provided for in paragraph (3) of that Article, before the term of the elected candidate begins;

6.	Where the election becomes invalidated as provided for in Articles 263 through 265.

(2)

Where the causes for holding a reelection have become definite in the same constituency of one election after the causes for holding a special election as referred to in Article 200 have become definite, if the said election day is identical, it shall be regarded as a reelection. <Added on Mar. 12, 2004>

Article 196 (Postponement of Election)

(1)

If it is impossible to hold an election or an election has not been held due to a natural disaster or terrestrial upheaval or for other unavoidable reasons, the President shall postpone the election in cases of a presidential election and a National Assembly election, and the chairperson of the competent constituency election commission shall do so in consultation with the competent head of the local government (including his or her proxy) in cases of an election of local council members and the heads of local governments. <Amended on Feb. 16, 2000>

(2)	In the case of paragraph (1), if the election is postponed, the procedure for election shall proceed all over again, and if only the election day is rescheduled, the election procedure shall resume where it had stopped.

(3)

If the election is postponed as provided in paragraph (1), the President or the chairperson of the competent constituency election commission shall publicly announce the name of the election to be postponed and the reason for postponement, and the President shall without delay notify the chairperson of the competent constituency election commission thereof, and the chairperson of the competent constituency election commission shall do so to the head of the relevant local government concerned. <Amended on Feb. 16, 2000>

Article 197 (Reelection Due to Partial Invalidation of Election)

(1)	If a judgment or decision on the partial invalidation of the election becomes final, the competent constituency election commission shall hold a reelection for the relevant voting district where the election has become invalid, and then decide a new elected candidate.

(2)	Notwithstanding Article 44 (1), the official list of eligible voters used for the initial election shall be used in holding the reelection as provided for in paragraph (1), unless there is any specification in the judgment or decision. <Amended on Jul. 28, 2011>

(3)

In holding a reelection as provided for in paragraph (1), where political parties are merged, the merged party shall nominate, to the relevant constituency election commission, one person from among the candidates before a merger of political parties as a new candidate during the period from the beginning day of the said reelection to the day next thereto, and in an election of proportional representation members of the National Assembly and an election of proportional representation members of local councils, each roll of candidates shall be submitted, but any person who has not been listed in the roll of candidates submitted by the political parties before a merger shall not be added. <Amended on Apr. 1, 1995; Mar. 7, 2002; Mar. 12, 2004; Aug. 4, 2005>

(4)	If a nomination is not made during the period as provided for in paragraph (3), the candidate registration that the political party has made for the relevant election district before the merger shall be invalidated.

(5)

The mark of a candidate for a merged party (referring to a political party nominating a candidate, in an election of proportional representation members of the National Assembly and an election of proportional representation members of local councils) shall be the same as what he or she has used at the initial election. <Amended on Mar. 7, 2002; Mar. 12, 2004; Aug. 4, 2005>

(6)	In calculating the votes obtained by the candidate nominated as provided for in paragraph (3), the votes obtained by the candidate who fails to obtain the nomination due to the merger shall not be counted.

(7)

Where the causes for holding a reelection as referred to in paragraph (1) have become definite in an election of proportional representation members of the National Assembly and an election of proportional representation members of local councils, the seats shall be re-allocated pursuant to Article 189 (1) through (4) or 190-2, after deducting from the fixed number of said seats an integral number (a fraction falling short of 1 shall be regarded as 1) of the number obtained by multiplying the fixed number of seats in the relevant election district by the number obtained by dividing the number of eligible voters in the voting district by the number of eligible voters in the relevant election district, and any winning of an election of proportional representation members of the National Assembly and of an election of proportional representation members of local councils, which has been excluded from the said re-allocation, shall be invalidated. <Added on Mar. 12, 2004; Aug. 4, 2005; Jan. 14, 2020>

(8)

Article 194 (4) shall apply mutatis mutandis to the reallocation of seats at the time when conducting a reelection as referred to in paragraph (1) in an election of proportional representation members of the National Assembly and an election of proportional representation members of local councils, and to a decision on the elected candidate. <Added on Mar. 12, 2004; Aug. 4, 2005>

(9)	The election campaign and election expenses for the reelection as provided in paragraph (1), and other necessary matters shall be prescribed by the National Election Commission Regulations within the limit of this Act.

[Title Amended on Jul. 28, 2011]

Article 198 (Revoting due to Natural Disaster or Terrestrial Upheaval)

(1)

Where the voting in a voting district is not held due to a natural disaster or terrestrial upheaval or for other unavoidable reasons, or a ballot box is lost or destroyed, the competent constituency election commission shall hold a revoting for the relevant voting district and then decide the elected candidate for the election district. <Amended on Apr. 1, 1995; Mar. 7, 2002; Mar. 12, 2004>

(2)	If the revoting as provided for in paragraph (1) is deemed to have no effect on the result of the election for the relevant election district, the elected candidate shall be decided without holding the revoting. <Amended on Mar. 7, 2002; Mar. 12, 2004>

(3)

With respect to the revoting as provided for in paragraph (1), if there is a merged political party, in the calculation of obtained votes for reallocating the seats of proportional representation members of the National Assembly and proportional representation members of City/Do councils as provided for in Article 194, the number of the votes obtained by the candidate and the proportional representation members of local councils shall be added to the votes obtained by the political party to which the candidate has belonged before the merger. <Amended on Feb. 16, 2000; Mar. 7, 2002; Mar. 12, 2004; Aug. 4, 2005>

(4)	Article 197 (3) through (6) shall apply mutatis mutandis to the revoting to be held due to a natural disaster or terrestrial upheaval.

(5)	The election campaign and expenses for the revoting under paragraph (1), and other necessary matters shall be prescribed by the National Election Commission Regulations within the limit of this Act.

Article 199 (Holding Postponed Elections)

The postponed election under Article 196 (1) or the revoting under Article 198 (1) shall be held together with an election under Article 35, if possible. <Amended on Mar. 12, 2004>

Article 200 (Special Elections)

(1)	If the office of a constituency member of the National Assembly, a constituency member of a local council, or the head of a local government becomes vacant, a special election shall be held. <Amended on Apr. 1, 1995; Feb. 16, 2000; Aug. 4, 2005>

(2)

If the office of a proportional representation member of the National Assembly or a proportional representation member of a local council becomes vacant, the constituency election commission shall decide the person to succeed to the seat of the vacant National Assembly or local council member in the order specified in the roll of candidates for proportional representation members of the National Assembly or for proportional representation members of local councils, of the political party to which the vacant member belonged at the time of his or her election, within 10 days after it receives the notification of such vacancy. <Amended on Apr. 1, 1995; Feb. 16, 2000; Aug. 4, 2005; Jan. 25, 2010; Jan. 14, 2020>

(3)	Notwithstanding paragraph (2), when the political party that has nominated a candidate to succeed to a seat is dissolved or a vacancy occurs within 120 days before the expiration of the terms of office, the person to succeed to the seat shall not be determined. <Amended on Jan. 14, 2020>

(4)

If the presidency becomes vacant, the person acting for the President shall notify the National Election Commission of the fact without delay, and if the office of a member of the National Assembly becomes vacant, the Speaker of the National Assembly shall notify the President and the National Election Commission of the fact without delay. <Amended on Jan. 14, 2020>

(5)

If the office of a local council member becomes vacant, the chairperson of the relevant local council shall notify the head of the relevant local government and the competent constituency election commission thereof, and if the office of the head of a local government becomes vacant, the person acting for the head of the local government shall notify the chairperson of the local council concerned and the competent constituency election commission thereof.

(6)

Where there exists no notification of vacancy under paragraph (4) or (5) by the time of an application for candidate's registration even though the said member has retired from office under Article 53, the said notification shall be deemed to have been received when he or she was registered as a candidate therefor. <Added on Mar. 12, 2004>

[Paragraph (2) of this Article, which was determined unconstitutional by the Constitutional Court made on June 25, 2009, was amended by Act No. 9974 January 25, 2010]

Article 201 (Special Cases concerning Special Elections)

(1)

If the term is less than one year from the election day to the expiration day of the term of office, or a fourth or more of the fixed number of the local council members is not vacant (excluding a reelection held when the term until the expiration day of the term of office is at least one year, a postponed election, or the revoting), a special election (excluding a presidential election and an election of proportional representation members of the National Assembly and proportional representation members of local councils; hereafter in this paragraph, the same shall apply) may not be held. In such cases, where the special election is held because a fourth or more of the fixed number of the local council members becomes vacant, it shall be held for the total vacant council members thereof. <Amended on Dec. 30, 1995; Feb. 16, 2000; Jul. 24, 2001; Aug. 4, 2005>

(2)	Where litigation on an election is pending under Article 219 (2) or 223, a special election shall not be held.

(3)

Where a special election, reelection, postponed election, or revoting for a local council member is held, if the area of the constituency extends over the area under jurisdiction of any other local government corresponding to the local government to which the council member belongs because of a change in the territorial jurisdiction of the latter, the area under jurisdiction of the relevant local government shall be the area of the competent constituency.

(4)

Even if the reason for holding a special election occurs, when choosing not to hold the special election for the reason that falls under the former part of paragraph (1), the fact thereof shall be publicly announced within 10 days after the reason for holding a special election becomes final, and the President shall notify the competent constituency election commission in cases of a special election of members of the National Assembly , and the chairperson of the competent constituency election commission shall notify the chairperson of a local council and the head of a relevant local government in cases of a special election of the local council members or the head of the local government. In such cases, the reason for holding the election shall be considered to have not been final, notwithstanding the provisions of Article 35 (5). <Amended on Feb. 16, 2000>

(5)

When the special elections is held pursuant to the latter part of paragraph (1), such special election shall be held within 60 days after the date on which reasons for holding the relevant election are confirmed, notwithstanding Article 35 (2) 1, and the chairperson of the competent constituency election commission shall publicly announce the election day not later than 30 days before the election day: Provided, That when the election day of the special elections occurs between 40 days before the commencing date of the election period of special elections which is held on the first Wednesday of April under Article 35 (2) 1 and 30 days after the election day, an election shall be held along with such special elections. <Amended on Jan. 25, 2010; Jan. 17, 2012; Aug. 13, 2015>

(6)

"Time of confirming grounds for holding an election", including special elections held under the latter part of paragraph (1) and paragraph (5), refers to the date on which the competent constituency election commission is notified of a vacancy in members, which falls under the vacancy of not less than 1/4 of the fixed number of local council members, by the head of the relevant local council, notwithstanding the provisions of Article 35 (5). <Added on Jan. 25, 2010>

(7)

In special elections (excluding special elections held simultaneously along with an election, reelection, or deferred election held due to a presidential vacancy or an election held at the expiration of the terms of office), a person whose residence is outside the constituency (referring to the area within jurisdiction of the competent Gu/Si/Gun, if the constituency is smaller than the area within jurisdiction of the competent Gu/Si/Gun) in which the special elections are held may also file a home voting report and vote in accordance with the process applicable to home voters under Article 158-2, in addition to persons specified in Article 38 (4) 1 through 5. <Amended on Jan. 17, 2014>

[Title Amended on Aug. 13, 2015]

Article 202 (Definition of Simultaneous Elections and Election Period)

(1)	For the purpose of this Act, the term "simultaneous elections" means holding two or more different elections on the same election day in the area where the election districts overlap partially or wholly.

(2)

In simultaneous elections, if the election periods and the election affairs schedules of individual elections are different with one another, the simultaneous elections shall be held according to the example of the one whose election period is longer, notwithstanding different provisions of this Act.

Article 203 (Scope and Election Day of Simultaneous Elections)

(1)	The elections of local council members and the head of a local government, whose terms expire on the same day, shall be held at the same time on the election day of the election to be held at the expiration of their terms of office.

(2)	Where an election of the head of a local government under Article 35 (2) 2 falls under either of the following, it shall be held at the same time on the election day of the election to be held at the expiration of the term of office: <Amended on Apr. 30, 1998; Feb. 16, 2000; Aug. 13, 2015>

1.	A special election, the period of which expires during the election period of the election to be held at the expiration of the term of office;

2.	A special election, the election period of which expires after the election day of the election to be held at the expiration of the term of office, but the execution of which is finally decided 30 days before the election day of the election to be held at the expiration of the term of office.

(3)

In the year when a National Assembly election or an election of local council members and the heads of local governments is held at the expiration of their terms of office, special election, etc. held on the first Wednesday of April under Article 35 (2) 1, shall be held at the same time on the day the aforementioned elections are held at the expiration of their terms of office. In such cases, a special election etc. whose reasons for holding have become definite by April 30 shall be concurrently held on an election day of a local council member or head of the local government. <Amended on Dec. 29, 2020>

(4)

In the year when a presidential election is held, special elections under the main clause of Article 35 (2) 1 (a) and item (b) of that subparagraph shall be held at the same time as the presidential election if the reasons for holding such special elections have become definite. <Amended on Dec. 29, 2020>

(5)

Where the reason for holding an election to fill up a presidential vacancy or reelection becomes definite by the day before the commencement date of application for candidate registration for special elections under the items of Article 35 (2) 1 (excluding special elections, etc. under the proviso of item (a)), such special elections shall be held at the same time as the aforementioned election to fill up a presidential vacancy or reelection. <Added on Apr. 6, 2018; Dec. 29, 2020>

[Title Amended on Aug. 13, 2015]

Article 204 (Special Cases concerning Official Lists of Eligible Voters)

(1)	Notwithstanding the provisions of Article 44 (1), only one set of the official list of eligible voters and one set of the official lists of reported home voters and reported shipboard voters shall be used in simultaneous elections. <Amended on Jul. 28, 2011; Jan. 17, 2014>

(2)	Deleted. <Apr. 30, 1998>

(3)	The forms of covers of the official list of eligible voters and the official lists of reported home voters and reported shipboard voters to be used in simultaneous elections and other necessary matters shall be prescribed by the National Election Commission Regulations. <Amended on Jan. 17, 2014>

[Title Amended on Jul. 28, 2011]

Article 205 (Special Cases concerning Establishment of Election Campaign Organizations and Appointment of Election Affairs Personnel)

(1)

In the simultaneous elections, two or more candidates (including the political party which has nominated a candidate in an election of proportional representation members of local councils; hereafter in this Article, the same shall apply) nominated by the same political party may jointly establish an election campaign office and election campaign liaison office. <Amended on Mar. 7, 2002; Aug. 4, 2005>

(2)	In the simultaneous elections, two or more candidates nominated by the same political party may jointly appoint an election campaign manager, chief of the election campaign liaison office, or election campaign worker.

(3)

In case of paragraphs (1) and (2), each candidate shall be deemed to have carried out the establishment or appointment thereof, and the facts thereof shall be specified in a report on establishment and appointment and the expenses for joint establishment and appointment may be allocated among candidates according to an agreement among them, but the details of such allocation shall be specified in the report on establishment and appointment.

(4)	A candidate shall not be an election campaign manager, chief of an election campaign liaison office, election campaign worker, or accountant in charge for a candidate in another election.

(5)

The report form of establishment and appointment at the time of joint establishment of an election campaign office and election campaign liaison office and joint appointment of those engaged in the election affairs, and the identification card form, and other necessary matters shall be prescribed by the National Election Commission Regulations.

Article 206 (Special Cases concerning Campaign Posters)

When the simultaneous elections are held under Article 203 (1), the number of campaign posters shall be 2/3 of the base number provided in Article 64 (1) if two elections are held at the same time, and 1/2 of the base number if three or more elections are held at the same time. <Amended on Jan. 25, 2010>

[Title Amended on Jan. 25, 2010]

Article 207 (Special Cases of Booklet-type Election Campaign Bulletins)

(1)

In simultaneous elections, not less than two candidates (referring to a party-nominated candidate in a presidential election, and a political party that nominates its candidate in an election of proportional representation members of the National Assembly and in an election of proportional representation members of local councils; hereafter in this Article, the same shall apply) who are nominated by the same political party may jointly prepare booklet-type election campaign bulletins pursuant to Article 65 and when the booklet-type election campaign bulletins are prepared, the candidates shall be deemed that they each prepare one kind of the booklet-type election campaign bulletins. <Amended on Aug. 4, 2005>

(2)

If the booklet-type election campaign bulletin is jointly prepared in a manner that the candidate for the larger election district inserts, in a part of such booklet-type election campaign bulletin, different contents concerning a candidate for the smaller election district depending on the election district, the booklet-type election campaign bulletin in which the contents concerning the candidate for the larger election district are identical shall be considered as one kind. <Amended on Aug. 4, 2005>

(3)

If the booklet-type election campaign bulletin is jointly prepared under paragraph (1), the expenses may be allocated among the candidates in accordance with an agreement. In such cases, the details of allocation shall be reported in writing to the competent Gu/Si/Gun election commission at the time the booklet-type election campaign bulletin is submitted. <Amended on Aug. 4, 2005>

[Title Amended on Aug. 4, 2005]

Article 208 Deleted. <Mar. 12, 2004>

Article 209 (Special Cases concerning Speech or Interview at Open Places)

In the simultaneous elections, two or more candidates nominated by the same political party may jointly give an election speech or interview at an open place under Article 79. <Amended on Dec. 30, 1995; Apr. 30, 1998; Mar. 12, 2004; Jan. 25, 2010>

Article 210 (Special Cases concerning Regulation of Party Activities Related to Election)

In the simultaneous elections, the regulations on political party activities related to the election under Chapter IX shall be applied on the basis of one election regardless of the number of the elections to be held at the same time, but where the election to be held at the expiration of the term of office and the special election under Article 35 (2) and (3) or the postponed election under Article 36 are held at the same time, the election to be held at the expiration of the terms of office shall be the base, and where the special election under Article 35 (2) and (3) is held at the same time, "when the reason for holding the election becomes final" means "when the for holding the first special election of those special elections which are to be held at the same time becomes final".

Article 211 (Special Cases concerning Ballot Papers and Voting Information Notices)

(1)	In simultaneous elections, ballot papers may be prepared and delivered in a way that they are differentiated for each election by chromaticity or quality of paper, as prescribed by the National Election Commission Regulations.

(2)	Deleted. <Aug. 4, 2005>

(3)

In simultaneous elections, ballot papers for an election of Mayors/Do Governors and an election of proportional representation members of City/Do councils shall be prepared by the relevant City/Do election commission as prescribed by the National Election Commission Regulations, notwithstanding Article 151 (1). In such cases, the official seal of the City/Do election commission shall be affixed to the ballot papers but such official seal may be printed on the ballot papers in lieu of affixing it to them. <Amended on Aug. 4, 2005>

(4)

In simultaneous elections, the voting information notices (including voting information notices in braille; hereafter in this paragraph the same shall apply) may be prepared in one kind of voting information notice, as prescribed by the National Election Commission Regulations, notwithstanding Article 153. <Amended on Jul. 28, 2011>

(5)	In simultaneous elections, the number, installation and equipment of the polling station, a person to prepare and deliver the ballot papers, and the delivery method thereof, the voting procedure, and other necessary matters shall be prescribed by the National Election Commission Regulations.

[Title Amended on Jul. 28, 2011]

Article 212 (Special Cases concerning Dispatching and Returning of Ballot Papers for Home Voting and Early Voting)

In any of the following cases, only one envelope for returning or dispatching may be used for each eligible voter for simultaneous elections:

1.	Dispatching ballot papers to a home voter or returning ballot papers by a home voter;

2.	Returning ballot papers cast by an eligible voter at an early voting polling station.

[This Article Wholly Amended on Jan. 17, 2014]

Article 213 (Special Cases concerning Selection and Appointment of Voting Observers)

(1)

In simultaneous elections, two voting observers shall be selected and reported by each political party that has nominated candidates, and each independent candidate, notwithstanding the number of persons to be selected and reported under Article 161 (2). <Amended on Apr. 1, 1995; Feb. 16, 2000; Aug. 4, 2005>

(2)	In designating voting observers for the simultaneous election, the "candidates" provided for in Article 161 (4) shall be deemed the "political party or candidates" and "by the candidate" shall be deemed "by the candidate and the political party", respectively. <Amended on Aug. 4, 2005>

(3)

In simultaneous elections, two early voting observers shall be selected and reported by each political party participating in the election, and one early voting observer by each independent candidate, regardless of the number of persons to be selected and reported in accordance with Article 162 (2). <Amended on Apr. 1, 1995; Feb. 16, 2000; Aug. 4, 2005; Jan. 17, 2014>

(4)

In simultaneous elections, the number of early voting observers shall not exceed eight persons, but if the number of observers selected and reported under paragraph (3) exceeds eight, the competent election commission shall first designate those selected and reported by a political party, and the remaining observers shall be designated by lottery until the total reaches eight, from among those selected and reported by the independent candidates. In such cases, if the number of those selected and reported by a political party exceeds eight, the observers shall be designated up to eight, beginning with a person selected and reported by a political party on the top of list under Article 150 (3) through (5). <Added on May 10, 1995; Nov. 14, 1997; Feb. 16, 2000; Mar. 7, 2002; Aug. 4, 2005; Jan. 25, 2010; Jan. 17, 2014>

Article 214 (Special Cases concerning Opening, etc. of Ballot Boxes)

In the simultaneous elections, the ballot boxes shall be opened by each election or constituency having jurisdiction over a smaller area under Article 175 (2). <Amended on Mar. 12, 2004; Mar. 2, 2006>

Article 215 (Special Cases concerning Counting Observers)

(1)

In simultaneous elections, the political party that has nominated a candidate shall select and report eight counting observers, and the independent candidate shall select and report two counting observers, notwithstanding the number of persons to be selected and reported under Article 181 (2): Provided, That the Gu/Si/Gun election commission, upon counting the home ballots, shipboard ballots, and early ballots shall permit four persons of those selected and reported by the political party and one person of those selected and reported by the independent candidate to witness such ballot counting. <Amended on Apr. 1, 1995; May 10, 1995; Feb. 16, 2000; Aug. 4, 2005; Jan. 17, 2014>

(2)

In simultaneous elections, notwithstanding Article 182 (2), the admission tickets shall first be allocated equally among the political parties, and then allocated equally among the independent candidates, but each candidate shall be allocated at least one ticket. <Amended on May 10, 1995; Feb. 16, 2000; Aug. 4, 2005>

Article 216 (Special Cases concerning Holding Four or More Elections Simultaneously)

(1)

In four or more simultaneous elections, the candidate for an election of constituency members of autonomous Gu/Si/Gun councils may use one motor vehicle and one set of portable loudspeakers for an election campaign speech or interview provided in Article 79. In such cases, portable loudspeakers shall not generate noise in excess of the noise limits under the main clause of Article 79 (8) 2. <Amended on May 10, 1995; Feb. 16, 2000; Mar. 7, 2002; Aug. 4, 2005; Jan. 18, 2022>

(2)

Where the elections of local council members and the head of a local government are simultaneously held at the expiration of their terms of office, the ballot-counting and the announcement of results may be conducted and made for each Eup/Myeon/Dong, notwithstanding Article 178 (1) and (3): <Amended on Jan. 25, 2010; Jul. 28, 2011; Jan. 17, 2014>

1.	Deleted; <Jul. 28, 2011>

2.	Deleted; <Jul. 28, 2011>

3.	Deleted; <Jul. 28, 2011>

4.	Deleted; <Jul. 28, 2011>

5.	Deleted; <Jul. 28, 2011>

6.	Deleted; <Jul. 28, 2011>

7.	Deleted; <Jul. 28, 2011>

8.	Deleted; <Jul. 28, 2011>

9.	Deleted. <Jul. 28, 2011>

(3)	Deleted. <Jan. 25, 2010>

(4)	Deleted. <Feb. 16, 2000>

(5)

Where four or more simultaneous elections are held, the number of ballot boxes to be placed in polling stations other than those pursuant to paragraphs (1) and (2), procedures and methods for the voting and ballot counting, ballot-counting procedures under paragraph (2), and other necessary matters shall be prescribed by the National Election Commission Regulations. <Amended on Mar. 2, 2006; Jan. 25, 2010; Jul. 28, 2011>

[Title Amended on Jul. 28, 2011]

[Inconsistency with the Constitution, 2018Hun-Ma730, Dec. 27, 2019, Article 216 (1) of the Public Official Election Act (as amended by Act No. 7681 on August 4, 2005) is inconsistent with the Constitution. The aforesaid provisions shall continue to apply until no later than December 31, 2021 or until the legislature amends it, whichever comes earlier.]

Article 217 (Special Cases concerning Preparation of Voting Record and Ballot Counting Record)

In the simultaneous elections, one voting record and one ballot counting record may be prepared, without distinguishing elections. <Amended on Aug. 4, 2005>

Article 218 (Establishment and Operation of Overseas Election Commission)

(1)

Whenever a presidential election or a National Assembly election is held at the expiration of the term of office, the National Election Commission shall establish and operate an overseas election commission for the fair administration of an overseas election in every mission under Article 2 of the Act on the Establishment of Overseas Diplomatic and Consular Missions of the Republic of Korea (including an office conducting consular affairs in a region where no diplomatic mission is established and a branch mission or a branch office under Article 3 of the aforesaid Act, and excluding a mission not conducting consular affairs or without its consular jurisdiction and a mission where an office of the mission is not established in the consular jurisdiction; hereafter in this Chapter referred to as a "mission") from 180 days before the election day to 30 days after the election day: Provided, That in cases of an election and a reelection due to a vacancy of the President, the National Election Commission shall establish and operate overseas election commissions within 10 days from the date when a reason for holding the election has been decided. <Amended on Jul. 28, 2011; Mar. 9, 2017>

(2)

An overseas election commission shall be comprised of not more than two members appointed by the National Election Commission and members commissioned by the National Election Commission, such as one person each recommended by each party which has organized a negotiation body in the National Assembly, the head of a mission or one person recommended by the head of a mission from among officials of the mission, and a quorum of members shall be an odd number: Provided, That the number of incumbent members shall be deemed the quorum of members if the number of political parties that have organized a negotiation body in the National Assembly after the overseas election commission is organized. <Amended on Jan. 17, 2012>

(3)	None of the following persons shall be a member of an overseas election commission: <Amended on Jul. 28, 2011>

1.	A person who has no right to vote a member of the National Assembly;

2.	A person who is a member of a political party;

3.	An overseas returning officer.

(4)	An overseas election commission shall have one chairperson and one vice chairperson who are elected by the commission from among its members: Provided, That the head of a mission or an official of the mission recommended by him or her shall not be the chairperson.

(5)	An overseas election commission may, when necessary for administration of an overseas election, request the head of the relevant mission to cooperate, and the head of the mission requested so shall comply with such request preferentially.

(6)	The chairperson of an overseas election commission may commission a secretary, a clerk, and personnel to be engaged in election affairs from among the personnel belonging to the relevant mission in consultation with the head of the relevant mission.

(7)	The head of a mission shall act for the chairperson of an overseas election commission for calling the first conference of a newly organized overseas election commission.

(8)

A district under the jurisdiction of an overseas election commission shall be a consular jurisdiction (where the head of a mission concurrently holds the positions of the head of other embassy, including the consular jurisdiction of the other embassy), and the name thereof shall be denominated with the name of the relevant mission, and an abbreviated name may be used. <Amended on Jul. 28, 2011>

(9)

During the period where an overseas election commission is operated or within six months after the operation period of an overseas election commission expires, the National Election Commission shall not, if the period for establishment and operation of an overseas election commission for another election begins, establish an overseas election commission for another election, notwithstanding paragraph (1), and shall consider the overseas election commission being operated as the overseas election commission for another election. <Added on Jul. 28, 2011>

(10)

The proviso of Article 4 (3), Article 4 (7) through (11), the main clause of Article 4 (12), Articles 5 (3) and (5) and 7, subparagraphs 1 through 4 of Article 9, and Articles 10, 11 (1) and (3), 12 (1) and (3), 13 and 14-2 of the Election Commission Act shall apply mutatis mutandis to the establishment and operation of overseas election commissions. In such cases, "related election commission," "subordinate election commission," "each class election commission" and "Gu/Si/Gun election commission" shall be deemed "overseas election commission," respectively; the "beginning date of a period for election (excluding an entrusted election; hereinafter the same shall apply) or the public announcement date of a proposal for a national referendum," "beginning date of a period for election or the public announcement date of a proposal for a national referendum" and "base date for preparation of the official list of eligible voters or the public announcement date of a proposal for a national referendum" shall be deemed the "date of establishment of an overseas polling station," respectively; the "relevant or Eup/Myeon/Dong election commission" shall be deemed the "relevant overseas election commission"; the "chairperson of a Gu/Si/Gun election commission" shall be deemed the "chairperson of an overseas election commission"; "each upper class election commission" shall be deemed the "National Election Commission," "full-time member or the vice chairperson" shall be deemed the "vice chairperson"; the "chairperson, a full-time member, and the vice chairperson" shall be deemed the "chairperson and vice chairperson"; the "time when the official counting is completed" shall be deemed the "deadline for overseas voting". <Amended on Jul. 28, 2011>

[This Article Added on Feb. 12, 2009]

Article 218-2 (Appointment of Overseas Returning Officer)

(1)	In order to conduct affairs concerning an overseas election, each mission shall have an overseas returning officer. <Amended on Jul. 28, 2011>

(2)	An overseas returning officer shall be the head of the relevant mission: Provided, That in cases of a mission with both the head of the mission and a consul-general, the head of the relevant mission shall designate the consul-general as an overseas returning officer. <Added on Jul. 28, 2011>

[This Article Added on Feb. 12, 2009]

Article 218-3 (Duties of Overseas Election Commission and Overseas Returning Officer)

(1)	An overseas election commission shall conduct the following affairs concerning an overseas election:

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