The ceremony of the 50th anniversary and the 2nd Voter''s day

= Had various events like marathon that the public willingly joins =

The National Election Commission (NEC) held the ceremony at COEX auditorium, Seoul in May 10 to celebrate the golden jubilee and the 2nd Voter''s day. It also had various events like an election photo exhibition and marathon that the public participates in and enjoys during the voter''s week.

▣ The NEC, 50 years of achievements and another 100 years of take-off

The NEC marks the 50th anniversary of its foundation: the NEC was founded as an independent constitutional agency in 1963 with the retrospect of illegal election in March 15 and the desire of the public for fair electoral management.

The NEC has made strenuous efforts of settling down democracy by embodying fair election out of hard conditions. As a result, Korea has been developed as an exemplary democratic country recognized by the world.

The NEC had managed only presidential elections and National Assembly elections and National Referendum but it gradually expanded the scope of its work to local elections, residents'' referendum and residents'' recall vote. Since 2000, the scope has much broadened to neighborhood elections like elections for the head of apartments and Cooperative Federations as it has gained the public''s trust on managing the public election in a fair manner.

※ The NEC has managed 1,200 and 2,400 public elections and entrusted elections respectively.

In addition, the NEC has strictly inspected and regulated against electoral violations starting from inspecting illegal activities against election laws from the re-election of the National Assembly held in Donghae-city in 1989. These efforts of the NEC has significantly improved the electoral culture and established electoral rules by rooting out illegal elections such as elections forced by government authority or by money.

The NEC has concentrated all efforts in advancing the laws pertaining to politics since the bill for revising the Public Official Election Act that integrates all individual election laws was proposed in 1993. Especially, it has secured the principle of public''s right and improved voters’ convenience by adopting overseas voting and ship-board voting, introducing an early voting system and allowing internet election campaign all times. In addition, it has tried to improve democratic politics by supporting sound parties to be developed further, securing transparency in political funds and setting manifesto centered elections to improve democratic politics.

In 1996, the Korean Civic Education Institute for Democracy (KOCEI) was established to run various training and education courses aiming at enhancing civic awareness on democracy targeting future voters, multi-national families, North Korean defectors and party members. This year, it is operating a civic academy for democracy and politics to foster political and social leaders.

The NEC has focused on developing world democracy as well. It has done various election supporting activities such as electoral officer courses, supports of making electoral laws and deployment of advisory groups for under-developed countries and emerging democracies since 2006. In addition, many countries are visiting the NEC to learn experiences on democratization and electoral systems.

In particular, the NEC was appointed as a chair of Association of Asian Electoral Authorities (AAEA) in 2011. It is also working on establishing Association of World Election Bodies (A-WEB).

▣ The May 10th is the voter''s day annually-Commemorate the general election for the National Assembly in May 10, 1948

This is the second time of Voter’s Day on May 10.

‘Voter''s day’ celebrated annually was established by the law last year to share the public awareness on the importance of election and voting which are the tool of realizing popular sovereignty and to light on the right and obligation of the voters.

The reason May 10 is designated as the Voter''s Day is to commemorate the general election for the National Assembly held in May 10, 1948, which followed the principle of the universal/equal/direct and secret vote for the first time in Korean history.

According to the general election for the National Assembly in May 10, 1948, the Constitutional Assembly was adopted firstly in Korean history of the constitutional government. The general election for the National Assembly was the starting point of democratic politics in Korea by legislating the Constitution and establishing Korean government.

▣ Host ''the ceremony of the Golden Jubilee of the NEC and the 2nd Voter''s day at COEX auditorium, Seoul in May 10

The NEC hosted the ceremony to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the NEC and the 2nd voter''s day.

About 800 participants including the chairperson of the NEC, Mr. Lee In-Bok, speaker of the National Assembly, Chief Justice of the Supreme Court and Chief Justice of the Constitutional Court, members of the National Assembly, heads of parties, relevant organizations and heads of civic and social groups and general public hoping to join the ceremony will attend this event.

This event presided by Ms. Lee Hyun-Joo, an announcer of KBS would be consisted with a pre-event ceremony and a celebration under the title of ''the NEC with the public, 50 years of achievements and another 100 years of take-off''.

The pre-event ceremony showed pictures which were awarded prizes in the 1st and 2nd Korean Election Photo Contests and the Sand Art Performance with the title of the history and vision of the NEC.

The celebration which was the main event is composed of singing Voters'' song by Civic Chorale, commemorative remarks by the Chairman of the NEC, Mr. Lee In-Bok, a congratulatory message from the President via a video clip and a time capsule performance, etc.

In particular, the new CI bearing future oriented values of the NEC that makes another leap forward in greeting the 50th anniversary was unveiled.

Meanwhile, at the lobby of the event, there will be an exhibition on Voting/ballot counting devices used at elections since 1948, records of election in timeline and photos of elections.

▣ More events like Marathon race that the public joins directly

The NEC prepared various commemorative events that the public joins together during the voter''s week.

The NEC had an exhibition of photos related to the election history from May 10 to 14 and from May 13 to 17 at the exhibition hall located at Seoul National University and Hyehwa subway stations separately.

In May 11, the final of collegiate debate competition was held at KT training institute in Daejeon city under the theme; bilateral discussion system shall be adopted at the candidate discussions. On the same day, the final of lecture contest was held under the title of ''I am the voter of Korea.'' at the grand hall of Seoul Municipal Youth Center in Gwangjin-Gu.

The marathon race celebrating ''Voter''s day'' was held in May 12 at the Hangang Citizen''s Park in Yeouido, Seoul with 7,000 participants including those in a party and civic societies, the blind and amateur club members. Also, in the evening, the KBS Open Concert that celebrates the 50th anniversary and Voter''s day was aired.

The NEC expressed its hope that this 50th anniversary and the 2nd Voter''s day will be a stepping stone of reminding the meaning of an election which seats at the heart of democracy and it will do its best to settle down public oriented festival and harmonizing culture in an election.