The National Election Commission (NEC) announced on March 5 that the 1st Simultaneous Nationwide Elections for Heads of MG Community Credit Cooperatives concluded smoothly, with 451,036 out of 1,752,072 eligible voters participating, recording an overall turnout of 25.7% (Direct Elections: 25.1%, Delegate Assembly Elections: 95.1%).

Despite challenges due to variations in the election and voting methods among cooperatives, as well as differences in candidate eligibility requirements, the election proceeded without major issues thanks to the cooperation between the NEC, cooperatives, relevant institutions, and the active participation of cooperative members.

A total of 1,540 candidates ran in 1,101 cooperatives, with 534 cooperatives electing their heads through direct voting, 4 cooperatives through general assembly voting, and 563 cooperatives through delegate assembly voting, resulting in an average competition ratio of 1.4:1. In 743 cooperatives, only one candidate registered, leading to uncontested elections.

Election-related information, including candidate vote percentages for each cooperative, is available on the NEC’s Election Statistics System for Simultaneous Cooperative Head Elections (https://we-info.nec.go.kr).

Following amendments to the MG Community Credit Cooperatives Act in 2021 and the Public Organizations, etc. Entrusted Elections Act in 2024, this was the first nationwide simultaneous election conducted under mandatory supervision by the Gu/Si/Gun election commissions. Several institutional changes were introduced to enhance transparency and fairness, including:

    - Direct election of cooperative heads by members, except for small cooperatives and certain exceptions

    - Introduction of a preliminary candidate system

    - Mandatory disclosure of criminal records in candidate election bulletins

    - Allowance for one designated person (such as a spouse or direct family member) to campaign on behalf of a (preliminary) candidate

    - Provision of virtual mobile phone numbers for election campaigning

The NEC stated that it will review the issues that emerged during the election process and work to improve future elections by gathering feedback from MG Community Credit Cooperatives and other relevant institutions.