179 NEC Employees on Leave During June 3 Election: "Four Leaves in Five Elections" Sparks Controversy

It has been revealed that 179 employees of the National Election Commission (NEC) were on leave on June 3, the day of the local elections, which were marred by a shortage of ballot papers.

Additionally, 97 employees were found to have taken leave two or more times during elections held over the past four years.

While the practice of NEC staff taking leave during election periods has faced criticism, this is the first time statistics specifically for election days have been disclosed.

According to the "Statistics on Employees on Leave During the Last Five Elections" submitted by the National Election Commission to Representative Kim Sun-kyu of the People Power Party, 179 NEC employees were on leave on the day of the June 3 local elections.

Of those on leave, 127 employees, or 71%, cited childcare as the reason.

This was followed by 30 employees on leave for general illness, 8 for family care or accompanying family members abroad, and 1 for study, military service, or as a full-time labor union representative.

Over the past four years, 97 employees took leave during two or more of the five elections held during that period.

Among them, 77 employees took leave twice, and 19 employees took leave three times.

One employee was even recorded as having taken leave during four out of the five elections.

By election, the number of employees on leave was 196 for the 20th Presidential Election, 218 for the 8th Local Elections, 168 for the 22nd General Election, 143 for the 21st Presidential Election, and 179 for the 9th Local Elections, showing that approximately 150 to 200 employees consistently took leave during each election period.

The NEC maintains that since the majority of those on leave are on childcare leave, it is a matter of guaranteeing legal rights.

An NEC official explained, "According to Article 71 of the State Public Officials Act, if a public official applies for leave for reasons such as child-rearing, pregnancy, or childbirth, the appointing authority must grant the leave."

The official further clarified, "In the first half of 2022, the 20th Presidential Election and the 8th Local Elections were held three months apart. Because the number of employees on leave was tallied based on election dates, it may appear that there are more repeat leave-takers than there actually are."

Although the NEC is an independent constitutional agency, it is subject to the State Public Officials Act in the same manner as general civil servants.

Reported by Kim Jiuk | Video by Hong Jinyoung | Graphics by Lee Jung-ju | Produced by SBS Digital News
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.