Election Campaign

• Election Campaign Period

  An election campaign is allowed from the starting day of the election period to the day before the election day. When it comes to the Presidential election, the starting day of the election period means the next day of the candidate registration deadline. For other public official elections, the starting day of the election period means the 6th day after the candidate registration deadline.

• Persons Barred from Election Campaign

  Any person who is a national of the Republic of Korea can conduct an election campaign freely. However, a person who falls under any one of the followings is not allowed to engage in an election campaign: a public official; a disenfranchised person; a minor (referring to a person who is below the age of 19); full-time executives and staff members of public agencies/institutions, agricultural cooperatives, livestock cooperatives, fisheries cooperatives, National Forestry Cooperative Federation, and local government corporations; a company commander or higher ranking officer of the Homeland Reserve Forces; heads of Tong/Ri/Ban; members of community committee; representatives, full-time executives and staff members of the Society for a Better Tomorrow, Korea Saemaul Undong Center, and Korea Freedom Federation.

• Election Campaigns of Preliminary Candidates

  This system aims at leveling the playing field for incumbent politicians and challengers, so they can conduct election campaigns even before the campaign period. A person who wants be a preliminary candidate is allowed to engage in election campaigns, after he/she has completed the preliminary candidate registration with submitting the necessary documents and 20/100 of the relevant election deposit. The necessary documents are verification documents for the right to stand for election; criminal records; and educational background.

  • Registration period of Preliminary Candidates

    - Presidential election: from 240 days before the election day

    - Elections for district representatives of the National Assembly and Si/Do government heads: from 120 days before the election day

    - Elections for district representatives of Si/Do council and Gu/Si council and Gu/Si government heads: from 90 days before the starting day of election period

    - Elections for district representatives of Gun council and Gun government heads: from 60 days before the starting day of election period

  • Campaign Methods of Preliminary Candidates

    - Establishing an election campaign office; and installing or posting the signboards, tablets or hanging placards at the election campaign office

    - Employing a certain number of campaign workers including an election campaign manager

    - Preliminary candidates and their spouses are allowed to ask for support as handing out the name cards that state the candidate's own name and photos, etc.

    - Sending campaign literature by mail within a number equivalent to 10/100 of the number of household located within the constituency

    - Transmitting texts, voice or motion images and other information by e-mails

    - Wearing sashes or marks indicating a preliminary candidate for conducting an election campaign

    - Appealing for support by means of direct telephone conversations

    - Transmitting election campaign information by text messages

• Election Campaign Methods

  Candidates are allowed to conduct campaigns during the election campaign period after completing the process of candidate registration.

  • Campaigns using Facilities

    Political parties and candidates are allowed to establish one election campaign office and election campaign liaison offices within the boundary of law; and install or post the signboards, tablets or hanging placards at an election campaign office and election campaign liaison offices.

  • Campaigns by Persons in Charge of Election Campaign Affairs

    Candidates are allowed to appoint one chief at both an election campaign office and an election campaign liaison office; and the chief is allowed to employ campaign workers to manage election affairs within the boundary of law.

  • Campaigns using Posters & Literatures

    Posters: To use posters is allowed for all the elections (except elections for proportional representatives of the National Assembly and proportional representatives of local councils); and candidates prepare poster and submit them to election commissions; and election commissions affix posters.
    Official Campaign Literature: It is allowed for all the elections; and candidates prepare election campaign booklets (Election campaign leaflets are included for the Presidential election) and election commissions send them to absentees and each household.

  • Campaigns on Streets (markets, squares, etc.)

    Candidates and campaign speechmakers are allowed to address a speech to ask for support using loudspeakers at roadsides and etc. where many people come and go. Candidates and their spouses, a campaign manager, a chief of the election campaign liaison office, campaign workers, an assistant to a disabled candidate, or an accountant in charge are allowed to conduct an election campaign putting on shoulder sashes, an upper garment, nameplates, handheld flags, mascots or other props during the election campaign period.

  • Campaigns using the Mass Media

    Newspaper & broadcast advertisements: available at the Presidential election; elections for proportional representatives of the National Assembly; elections for heads of Si/Do
    
    TV/radio address: available at all elections (except elections for district representatives of Si/Do council and Gu/Si/Gun council)
    
    Announcement of candidates' profile: only available at the Presidential election; National Assembly elections; elections for heads of local governments aired by the Korean Broadcasting System (KBS)

  • Interviews & Debates of Candidates

    Interviews & Debates held by organizations or groups as inviting candidates
    Interviews & Debates held by the press as inviting candidates
    Interviews & Debates hosted by the National Election Broadcasting Debate Commission
    Policy Debates hosted by the National Election Broadcasting Debate Commission

  • Campaigns using the Information and Communications Network

    Posting information for election campaigns on the Internet homepage or its bulletin board or chat room, etc. or sending e-mails
    Appealing for support by means of direct telephone conversations
    Transmitting election campaign information by text messages (excluding voice, pictures or video clips)

• Restrictions on Election Campaigns
  • Prohibition on pre-election campaigns & acts of giving an illegal gratuity

    All the election campaigns conducted not during the election campaign period are prohibited as illegal (except election campaigns allowed for preliminary candidates; election campaigns using internet homepages opened and run by candidates and prospective candidates); and acts of giving an illegal gratuity including money (congratulatory or condolence money, contribution, etc.), goods or food are prohibited at all the times.

  • Prohibition on Public Officials' Activities Affecting Elections

    Public officials, full-time executives and staff members or representatives of public agencies and organizations which are not allowed to engage in election campaigns are not allowed to conduct publicity activities for achievements of a specific political party or candidate; or are prohibited to engage in planning of election campaigns using their position. In addition, heads of local governments are banned to hold an event, publish and distribute campaign materials, or provide monetary goods from a certain point of time before the election day.

  • Prohibition on Election Campaigns of Groups

    Specific organizations or groups (including representatives, executives and staff members) described in the law are not allowed to engage in election campaigns under their name or the name of their representatives.

  • Restrictions on Door-to-door Visiting

    No one is allowed to go door-to-door visiting for election campaigns or asking people to join any political party during the election period.

  • Prohibition on Publication of Survey Results

    No one shall publish or report by quoting the details or result of a public opinion poll that may result in a presumption of an approval rating for a political party or a winning candidate from 6 days before the election day to the closing time for voting; and no one shall conduct a public opinion poll using a similar model to the ballot paper or under the name of candidates or political parties from 60 days before the election day to the election day.

  • Restrictions on political activity report

    National Assembly members and local council members are prohibited from reporting political activities to voters from 90 days before the election day to the election day.

  • Prohibition on using Illegal Campaign Organizations or Private Organizations

    No one shall establish or use illegal campaign institutions, groups, organizations or facilities for candidates (including prospective candidates) other than an election campaign office or election campaign liaison office regardless of what they are called.

  • Restrictions on Election-related Activities of Political Parties

    From a certain point of time, as the election is drawing near, even activities of political parties as follows shall be restricted: newspaper advertisement of party platform and policies, TV/radio address; time and number of times of a party founding convention and rally of party members; publication and distribution of campaign materials on party platform and policies, campaign pledge book and party newsletter; and promotional materials posted at party headquarters.