Election regulator allows Internet election campaigns

Korea's state election watchdog decided on Friday to allow candidates to use Twitter and other social networking sites for their election campaigns all year round.

Under the current Korean law, candidates are banned from distributing promotional publications and other materials for 180 days prior to voting. The election watchdog has classified Twitter postings related to elections and candidates as one of the banned materials.

The decision by the National Election Commission (NEC) came after the Constitutional Court ruled last month that using such online and mobile media to reach out to voters does not violate election laws, citing that the nature of the medium "fits into the election law that seeks fair opportunity, transparency and low-cost campaigns."

"In line with the court's ruling, we've decided to put a halt to the application of the law banning Internet campaigns," the NEC said, calling on the National Assembly to promptly revise the election law accordingly.

Liberal activist groups and social network site users widely welcomed the watchdog's decision.

"The move marks a major step forward in terms of voters' freedom of expression on the Internet," said a total of 52 left-leaning civic groups, including the People's Solidarity for Participatory Democracy, in a joint statement, adding, "Police and prosecutors, among others, are required to follow the decision in enforcing the law."

Citizens United for Better Society of the conservative bloc, however, said, "Safeguards should be set up in a bid to prevent the spread of slander and false information ahead of this year's major elections."

While Twitter and other micro-blogging Internet services have emerged as hot issues in South Korea, one of the most wired countries in the world with a large population of smartphone users, the NEC's decision is expected to have far-reaching implications for the country's political circle as the nation will elect a new parliament in April and a new president in December.

It is the first time in two decades that the two votes are held in the same year. (Yonhap)