15 April 2020, NIICE Commentary 4111
Angana Guha Roy
While 47 countries have postponed elections during the COVID-19 pandemic, South Korea comes across as a classic democratic model state, which has fought all odds to hold its 21st Legislative Election amidst the pandemic. On the brink of an unprecedented crisis, South Korea’s decision to go ahead with the general election is a novelty in the 21st century. However, it is not completely unprecedented in human history. We have examples of the US holding Presidential election during the civil war and Spanish flu outbreak in 1864 and 1918 respectively. Although the Australian state of Queensland held its’ local government elections in council areas across the state in late March, the electoral process was called a “lethal risk” held under a penalty as voting is compulsory in Australia. And then we have examples like Hungary where the parliament voted to allow PM Viktor Orban to rule by decree indefinitely. South Korea holding open free general elections amidst extra-ordinary pandemic circumstances can pave way for other democracies. Presently, South Korea has approximately 10, 591 COVID-19 cases out of which 7616 has recovered.
Set in the Backdrop of a Pandemic
South Korea reported its first case of the COVID -19 in mid-January. After that, the COVID-19 issue had set the government on a political roller-coaster as the number of cases surged. The opposition criticized the government’s “incapability” to address the crisis. However, soon South Korea’s crisis management measures to address the pandemic crisis was paced up by the Moon government. South Korea adopted rapid mass tests and efficient quarantine measures in a drive to lessen the spread of the virus. The global community soon started following the South Korean Model to address the pandemic.
Campaign Strategy
With the slowing down of the number of infection cases, South Korea kicked off electoral campaigns in the first week of April. While numerous parties registered candidates, the ruling Democratic Party (DP) of President Moon Jae-in and the main conservative opposition United Future Party (UFP) are the main race runners. The campaign of the opposition and the ruling party was centered on COVID-19 and the economic trajectory of the country. Earlier, Moon government’s approval ratings were really low because of sluggish economic performance and political scandal involving Minister of Justice, Cho Kuk. The main opposition party UFP emphasized on the need to “judge” the government, citing policy failures leading to the economic downturn.
Nevertheless, President Moon’s approval ratings have increased in the wake of the pandemic. The government’s quick response and effective measures to address the crisis garnered positive support. Recent surveys reveal, 50 percent of South Korean’s think Moon government has “done well” in handling the outbreak. The 21st Legislative Election to elect the National Assembly is seen as a referendum of public confidence in President Moon Jae-in. With higher approval ratings, the ruling DP is expected to win the elections as the government’s measures have gained a positive response. With the changing tide in approval ratings, the DP is expecting at least 147 seats.
Managing the Election Process
With 44 million registered voters, the South Korean general election was conducted across 14330 polling stations across the nation. Combined with the early voting or voting by email the overall turnout was around 66 percent, highest in 24 years since the 2004 General Election.
The government temporarily lifted quarantine rules to permit people to come out and vote in the general election. However, people who are in self-isolation who don’t carry any symptom and is willing to vote are allowed to vote after 6 pm. Patients with mild COVID-19 symptoms and medical personnel at treatment centers were also given the opportunity to vote in the election. Deliberate sets of preventive measures were followed to ensure the safety of general voters so that they don’t get exposed to virus transmission. Voters wearing face masks and gloves got their temperature checked in the polling stations, had access to hand sanitizers and maintained strict social distancing rules. Instead of fingerprint checks, machines were used to conduct face identification.
Takeaways
There are two key takeaways from South Korea’s 21st Legislative Election: First, South Korea is supremely advanced when it comes to the application of its technical know-how. South Korea’s model of holding a general election is a case study for countries that are apprehensive of holding democratic elections, in the wake of the pandemic. While effectively handling the COVID-19 crisis, it refused to bow down to the pandemic pressure and has adhered to its’ democratic values indicating its’ capability to handle post-COVID-19 recovery of the nation. Second, the highest turnout of voters in 24 years indicates the faith of the electorate on the political system and how fundamental it is for them to prioritize an elected leadership during a crisis. COVID-19 has pushed people to difficult limits but South Korea stands victorious.
