National Election Commission (South Korea)


The National Election Commission is an independent constitutional institution in South Korea, established to manage free and fair elections, national referendums and other administrative affairs concerning political parties and funds. The agency was established in accordance with Article 114 of the Constitution of South Korea. The NEC has equal status as highest constitutional institution as National Assembly, the Executive Ministries, the Supreme Court and the Constitutional Court. This highly independent status of NEC reflects national will to overcome past histories such as election rigging of South Korea in 1960.
During the period of the 2024 South Korean martial law, troops were sent to raid the commission headquarters.
WWW nec.go.kr

Organization

The Election Commission has a four-stage organizational structure, consisting of the National Election Commission, 17 Si/Do Election Commissions, 250 Gu/Si/Gun Election Commissions and 3,481 Eup/Myeon/Dong Election Commissions.
The term of office of the members of the commission shall be six years. No member of the commission shall be expelled from office except by impeachment or a sentence of imprisonment without prison labor or heavier punishment. The members of the commission shall not join political parties, nor shall they participate in political activities.
Overseas Election Commission shall be operated for Korean citizens in overseas where embassies and consulate-generals located, 180 days before and until 30 days after each presidential election and the National Assembly elections conducted following the termination of office.
1. National Election Commission

;Composition
;Secretariat
2. Si/Do Election Commission

;Composition
;Secretariat
3. Gu/Si/Gun Election Commission
;Composition
;Secretariat
4. Eup/Myeon/Dong Election Commissions
;Composition
;Executive Organs

Current commissioners of NEC

The current members of the NEC are:
  • Rho Tae-ak, chairperson
  • Kim Pil-gon, vice chairperson

  • Kim Chang-bo, commissioner
  • Lee Seung-taek, commissioner
  • Chung Eun-sook, commissioner
  • Cho Byoung-hyun, commissioner
  • Cho Seong-dae, commissioner
  • Park Soon-young, commissioner
  • Nam Rae-jin, commissioner

Duties and responsibilities

The National Election Commission manages elections for public office, including elections for President, National Assembly members, local council members and heads of the local government. The commission also manages entrusted elections for heads of the Agricultural, Fisheries, Livestock and Forestry Cooperatives and for candidates of presidents of National Universities.
The commission administers the registration, change, performance and dismissal of political parties and supports their activities on the basis of the constitution and the Political Parties Act, provides national subsidies for political parties, oversees the establishment and performance of supporters associations, collects and distributes political funds and monitors how the political funds are spent to guarantee smooth fundraising and transparency according to the Political Funds Act.
;Manage elections for public offices
;Prevent, oversee and control election law violations
;Investigate into the incomes and expenses of election-related funds
;Manage entrusted elections
;Manage national referendums
;Manage residents' referendums
;Manage residents' recall votes
;Manage political party duties
;Manage affairs in relation to political funds