○ Title: Elections Foster Democracy
○ Date: March 14, 2016 (Mon.) – June 29, 2016 (Sun.)
○ Venue: The National Museum of Korean Contemporary History (Special Exhibition Room on 3rd Floor, Experience Hall on 1st Floor)
○ Hosted by: The National Election Commissionand National Museum of Korean Contemporary History
○ Details: Planning and exhibition (Historical sources in election history, election supplies, etc.) and election experience (Hands-on experience and trial performance of voting and ballot paper sorting machine)
○ Articles on Exhibition: More than 300 pieces of relevant materials, election-related videos and hands-onexperience of election
Opening the Special Exhibition
In 1919, the provisional government of the Republic of Korea promulgated the democratic republican system and rights to vote in the provisional constitution. Since the first-ever election in 1948, South Korea has been developing and achieving a stable democracy. Amid a turbulent modern history of Korea, elections were going on as the driving force for the progress of democracy. Although there were times that elections were distorted for by some political figures with exclusive power to extend their terms in office, the nation did not give up on their rights to express its opinion through elections. As such, the history of the Korean election has been the history of the national democratic growth.
Part 1 First Step toward Democratic Election
The Korean people have been granted universal suffrage since the General Election held on May 10, 1948. Although some authoritarian governments distorted the election system before the democratic election system took root, the national aspirations for democracy continued and were expressed through elections.
Flyer Denouncing the March 15 Illegitimate Election
May 10 General Election Poster
Document on the 2nd Constitutional Amendment
The 5th Election of Members to the National Assembly (Lower House)
Bereavement Letter for Shin, Ik-hee and Cho, Byeong-ok
Candidate Posters of the Liberal Party for the 4th and 5th President and Vice President Elections
Polling Station Sign
Candidate Posters for the 3rd and 4th President and Vice President
Part 2 Rough Journey to Democratization through Elections
Elections legitimized the military regimes, at least in part, across from President Park, Chung-hee to President Chun, Doo-hwan. Despite the use of election as a democratic tool, the general public was limited to choose during those authoritarian regimes. In 1961, ‘May 16 Military Coup’ took place and the direct presidential system came alive. Through the “Reform (Yushin) Constitution” in 1972, the presidential election system changed again to an indirect one, enabling the Park, Chung-hee government to rule for a longer period. Based on the national aspiration for democratization, however, the direct presidential election system was finally recovered.
June 8 Illegitimate Election White Paper (New People’s Party)
Ballot Box
Publicity Slogan for “Reform (Yushin) Constitution”
The 5th Presidential Election Publicity Poster
Signboard of the Central Election Management Commission (The National Election Commission, Currently)
Publicity Poster for the National Council for Unification Representative Election
Guide for Voting Procedure and Introduction of the Constitutional Amendment Agenda
Part 3 Election, Flower of Democracy
The flower of democracy blossoms when an election takes place in a fair and democratic process based on a free will from the national public. The national aspirations for democracy were expressed in elections, even under authoritarian governments. The election history of the Republic of Korea has been in line with the history of its democracy. The Korean election system developed in a short period of time, just as its economy flourished in the short term. Now, Korea is creating an advamced election culture through its efforts to establish a world-class election management system. The Republic of Korea is also actively supporting many countries around the world that are hoping to develop their election systems.
Trip to Election together with S.E.S (A Girl Group) -S.E.S’s Election Story
Voting Guideline in Braille (Original Print) for the District·City·County Councilor Election in 1991
Recorder for Monitoring Election Process
Ballot Papers and a Return Envelope for Overseas Voters
Storage for Overseas Voting Ballots
Handheld Fan for Publicity of the 1st Nationwide Simultaneous Local Elections
Ballot Paper Used in the 13th Presidential Election
The 14th Election of Members to the National Assembly Promotional Poster
Part 4 Election Experience Hall
The exhibition room on the 1st floor provides visitors with an opportunity to experience election procedures.
3rd Floor of Planning Exhibition Room and 1st floor of Election Experience Hall at the National Museum of Korean Contemporary History
March 14, 2016 [Mon.] ~ June 26, 2016 [Sun.]
