National Election Commission

NEC

The election commissions in the Republic of Korea have a four-tier structure consisting of the National Election Commission (NEC), 17 Si/Do election commissions, 251 Gu/Si/Gun election commissions, and 3,510 Eup/Myeon/Dong election commissions.

• National Election Commission
  • Composition of the NEC

    The NEC is composed of nine commissioners. Three are appointed by the President, three are elected by the National Assembly, and three are nominated by the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court. The commissioners are appointed, elected, or nominated after a confirmation hearing at the National Assembly. The Chairperson is elected by a consensus vote and from among the commissioners.

    The NEC is composed of nine commissioners. Three are appointed by the President, three are elected by the National Assembly, and three are nominated by the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court. The commissioners are appointed, elected, or nominated after a confirmation hearing at the National Assembly. The Chairperson is elected by a consensus vote and from among the commissioners.

    

  • Secretariat

    The NEC Secretariat is composed of a Secretary General (ministerial level position), a Deputy Secretary General (deputy ministerial level), two chief officers, six departments, one independent office, one training institute, and 26 divisions.

  • Organization

    

Si/Do ECs

• Si/Do Election Commission
  • Commission

    Si/Do Election Commissions are composed of the Chairperson, the Standing Commissioner and Commissioners. Each political party that has a negotiating group in the National Assembly recommends one person (who has a voting right and is not a member of any political party) as a Commissioner. Three members including two judges are recommended by the Chief Justice of a Local District Court and another three members are nominated from a pool of scholars and individuals known for high academic and ethical standards. The Chairperson of the Commission is elected from among the members and customarily the Chief Justice of a District Court is elected the Chairperson. The Standing Commissioner is nominated by the National Election Commission and serves full-time.
    
    Under each Si/Do Election Commission are a secretariat and the Election Broadcasting Debates Commission.

  • Secretariat

    The Secretariat consists of the Standing Commissioner, the Director General and Four Divisions.

    

Gu/Si/Gun ECs

• Gu/Si/Gun Election Commission
  • Commission

    Gu/Si/Gun Election Commissions are composed of the Chairperson, the Deputy Chairperson and Commissioners.
    The Gu/Si/Gun Election Commission currently has two members endorsed by the political parties having a negotiation body in the National Assembly and six members commissioned by the Si/Do Election Commission from among judges, educators or persons known for their high academic and ethical standards.
    The Chairperson and the Deputy Chairperson are elected from among the Commissioners and as is its custom, the Judge is elected to be the Chairperson. No Commissioner holds a full-time position.
    The Gu/Si/Gun Election Commission has the Secretariat and the Election Debate Broadcasting Commission within the organization.

  • Secretariat

    The Gu/Si/Gun Election Commission that manages the National Assembly constituencies has an Executive Bureau, otherwise, an Executive Division within the organization.
    An Executive Bureau/Executive Division consists of the fourth grade (fifth grade) Director General of Secretariat and two divisions.

    

Eup/Myeon/Dong Election Commissions

• Commission

  Eup/Myeon/Dong Election Commissions are composed of the Chairperson, the Deputy Chairperson and Commissioners.
  Political parties that can constitute a negotiation body in the National Assembly endorse two members among those who reside in the Eup/Myeon/Dong and have the right to vote for members of the National Assembly but who are not members of any political party. The Gu/Si/Gun Election Commission appoints the other four members among the persons of learning and high moral repute. The Chairperson and the Deputy Chairperson are elected from among the Commissioners. No Commissioner holds a full-time position.

• Executive organs

  The Eup/Myeon/Dong Election Commission elects secretaries and clerks among local government officials to provide administrative support to the Election Commission. In addition, returning officers selected from among public officials or faculties are assigned to constituencies, where they are required to manage administrative duties pertaining to voting.