Suwon Mayor Lee Jae-jun, "Public Officials Must Maintain Political Neutrality"

[Suwon Ilbo=Reporter Jung Jun-sung] Suwon Metropolitan City Mayor Lee Jae-jun urged, "All public officials must maintain their duty of political neutrality."

During the April Executive Meeting held on the 25th in the conference room at City Hall, the mayor stated, "Political neutrality of civil servants is essential for transparent and clean elections," and reiterated, "I hope you will comply with the duty of political neutrality."

The four major duties related to political neutrality of civil servants are △prohibition of expressing support or opposition for specific candidates or political parties △prohibition of sharing SNS posts, commenting, or clicking 'likes' △prohibition of making election-related statements or exercising influence using official position △prohibition of engaging in election-related activities using public resources or organizational structures.

The Public Official Election Act, State Civil Service Act, and Local Civil Service Act strictly stipulate the duty of political neutrality for civil servants to prevent them from engaging in elections by using the influence and authority granted to their positions. Civil servants must not exercise undue influence in elections or conduct activities that affect election results.

The city has sent multiple notices requesting all public officials to comply with election neutrality duties since December of last year, which was six months before the 9th National Simultaneous Local Elections (June 3rd).