[Opinion] Lawmakers Who Violated Election Law Should Be Prevented From Re-running

It is said that the lawmakers, who have lost their seats in the Assembly due to the violation of the election law, and the lawmakers, who is anticipated to lose their seats by the decision of the high court, are actively considering running for re-election by resigning the seat before the court’s decision is made. This seems to illustrate the inferiority and the backwardness of the political environment in Korea.

Behind this consideration, there was an authoritative interpretation of the Election Control Committee. According to the authoritative interpretation of the Election Control Committee (ECC), even if the election related staff, not the lawmaker him/herself, gets actual prison sentence, the lawmaker can run for the re-election if the lawmaker resigns before the Supreme Court’s decision is made. This is also ludicrous. It seems that the law is too merciful for those lawmakers who stood on trial with clear evidence, even if there was no legal problem. It is concerning that the ECC`s kind encouragement for the lawmakers who lost their seats to re-run may deepen the distrust in politics. The purpose of legislating the election law seems to take into consideration the circumstances in which relatives and the head of the accountant participate in the distributing money and goods to the voters under the command or tacit approval of the candidate. Therefore, violation of the election law by the staff members of the candidate should lead to the deprivation of the lawmaker’s seat in the Assembly.

Media and social organizations should watch whether the election law is operated according to the original purpose. Parties also should follow the law without deceiving the people by saying `vindication of honor` or `consideration of re-nomination`.