The National Election Commission reimbursed KRW 293.17 billion for campaign spending incurred by political parties and candidates in relation to June 4 local elections.

After the local elections, each Si/Do and Gu/Si/Gun election commission looked into the legitimacy of the claim of KRW 369.77 billion made by 6,352 candidates (political polities in the case of proportional representation elections) through document screening and actual inspection and reimbursed KRW 293.17 billion - KRW 76.6 billion reduced from the claimed amount.

Looking at the amount reimbursed by election:

-         KRW 36.54 billion, elections for Si Mayor/Do Governor (35 candidates);

-         KRW 54.37 billion, elections for Superintendent of Education (59 candidates);

-         KRW 53.66 billion, elections for head of Gu/Si/Gun (523 candidates);

-         KRW 45.84 billion, elections for district representatives of Si/Do Assembly (1,472 candidates);

-         KRW 5.7 billion, elections for proportional representatives of Si/Do Assembly (relevant political parties);

-         KRW 89.14 billion, elections for district representatives of Gu/Si/Gun Assembly (3,950 candidates);

-         KRW 7.57 billion, elections for proportional representatives of Gu/Si/Gun Assembly (relevant political parties); and

-         KRW 310 million, elections for members of Education Committee (Jeju Special-governing Province, 9 candidates).

The amount reimbursed for 2014 local elections has been reduced by KRW 46.28 billion from the amount of KRW 339.45 billion reimbursed for 2010 local elections. This is because elections for members of Education Committee were not held nationwide, leading to the reduced number of candidates (9,518 candidates for 2010 local elections and 8,486 for 2014 local elections). The average amount reimbursed per head for 2014 local elections is as close as that for 2010 local elections.

Out of 6,532 candidates entitled for reimbursement, 5, 471 have been fully reimbursed who have been elected or gained more than 15/100 of the valid votes and 881 half reimbursed who have gained more than 10/100 and less than 15/100 of the valid votes.

Meanwhile, apart from reimbursement for campaign spending, KRW 2.25 billion was reimbursed to the relevant candidates for producing and mailing braille campaign booklets, producing braille election pledges, hiring assistants, etc. and for actual expenses, regardless of their share of the vote.

The NEC expressed its determination to take strict action, such as by requesting the return of the relevant amount or reporting to the prosecution in the case any false claim has been detected, including costs incurred for illegal activities, exaggerated amounts and others, even after reimbursement is done.

Anyone may view details of incomes and expenditures of political funds submitted by political parties and candidates at the relevant election commission or request a copy of those details. The information on incomes and expenditures of political funds related to campaign spending is also available at the NEC website http://www.nec.go.kr.