Independent lawmaker Han Dong-hoon said he would propose a bill to restrict vacations for National Election Commission employees during nationwide election periods.

Independent lawmaker Han Dong-hoon moves to his seat as he attends the 1st plenary session of the 436th National Assembly (extraordinary session) at the National Assembly in Yeouido, Seoul, on the 5th./Courtesy of News1

In a post on Facebook on the 7th, Han said, "Official statistics confirm that the number of vacations and leaves among National Election Commission employees surges every election season," adding, "During nationwide election periods, when most of the National Election Commission's work is concentrated, vacations and leaves by employees with election management expertise also concentrate, and the commission's poor election administration continues."

According to Han, the number of National Election Commission employees on leave was 84 in February 2021, when there was no election, compared with 226 in June 2022, when the presidential and local elections overlapped. The number on leave was 131 in February 2025, when an early presidential election was seen as likely, and 176 in May 2026, when local elections were scheduled.

Han noted, "The proviso to Article 60(5) of the Labor Standards Act stipulates that 'if granting leave at the time requested by the worker would cause significant disruption to business operations, the timing may be changed,'" adding, "To protect fair elections, the foundation of democracy, and to ensure the diligent performance of duties by National Election Commission officials who are paid with taxpayers' money, it is necessary to reasonably restrict the use of vacation and leave by National Election Commission employees."

Han said, "I will introduce, as my second bill, reform legislation that can restrict the indiscriminate use of vacation and leave by National Election Commission employees during nationwide election periods to at least the level of private business sites."

Han criticized, "Taxpayers' money is not paid to National Election Commission employees so they can enjoy privileges that private-sector workers cannot," adding, "The National Election Commission must be able to realize for itself what its reason for existence is."

Earlier, Han had said his first bill would allow external audits of the National Election Commission.

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