= Decision made in consideration of the reality that proceeding with overseas voting would be difficult, including concerns around the safety of overseas Koreans and travel restrictions, due to the spread of COVID-19 around the world =

= Shortened overseas voting period at 52 diplomatic missions and 10 additional polling stations will not be set up =

The National Election Commission (NEC) of the Republic of Korea announced it has decided to suspend overseas elections-related operations at 23 overseas missions in 17 countries, including at the Embassy of the Republic of Korea to Italy, by April 6, 2020. This is the second time the decision has been taken to suspend overseas elections after the consulate-general in Wuhan, China suspended their election operations.

The NEC made this decision after careful consideration of the following factors: 

- The NEC cannot guarantee the safety of overseas Koreans participating in voting in countries subject to a suspension of overseas elections due to the possibility of fines or detention in case they violate restrictions. In the respective countries all citizens are being subject to restrictions including self-quarantine, banned from all travel, or prevented from leaving their hom

- There is difficulty in operating overseas polling stations due to the closure of diplomatic missions and overseas voting officials having to work from home.

- Consideration of the view of governments where overseas voting was going to be held and the opinions of the heads of diplomatic missions regarding overseas voting. 

In addition, 52 diplomatic missions were required to operate a shortened overseas voting period, and of the 30 additional polling stations that were planned to be set up, 10 will now not be. 

In the future, the NEC will closely watch the situation regarding restrictions in countries in regions showing a rapid spread of COVID-19, including the east of the United States of American, and consult with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to decide on any further suspensions of overseas elections if it is deemed difficult to guarantee the safety of overseas Koreans.

The NEC will develop disinfection measures for overseas polling stations in line with the local situation, and strengthen anti-COVID-19 infection prevention measures such as maintaining a distance of more than a meter between voters in polling stations and preparing disinfectant. 

Meanwhile, the NEC are working closely with the related organizations such as the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, diplomatic missions and airlines to find all possible means of transportation, such as passenger flights, cargo flights or land transportation to ensure the ballot papers can be sent back to Korea.   

In the event that it is deemed impossible to send ballot papers back to Korea, the votes will be counted at the diplomatic mission pursuant to Article 218-24 (Ballot Counting of Overseas Votes) of the Public Official Elections Act, and the embassies which will count the ballots on location will be decided by April 11 to ensure that there is no disruption to the election.

In addition, registered overseas voters who do not leave Korea or those who return to Korea before the overseas voting period begins (April 1) can still vote on election day if they report to the relevant Gu/Si/Gun election commission from April 1. Those who return to Korea should attach documents that proved they returned to Korea before April 1. The NEC will actively guide these voters regarding the period (April 1 to April 15) and how to report their return to ensure they can exercise their right to vote. ​ 

Diplomatic Missions Where Overseas Voting has been Suspended

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