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Article 81
 

(Interviews or Debates by Organizations Inviting Candidates, etc.)


(1) An organization which does not fall under Article 87 (1) 1 through 6 may invite one or several candidates, interviewers or debaters (limited to the presidential election and the election for the Mayor/Do Governor, and referring to one person nominated by a political party or candidate for each election campaign office or election campaign liaison office, from among those who are eligible to engage in an election campaign; hereafter the same shall apply in this Article), and hold an interview or debate indoors, as prescribed by this Act, to inquire the platform and policy of the political party to which he/she or they belong or the candidate's political views, or other matters: Provided, That the same shall not apply to the trade unions and organizations under Article 10 (1) 6.


<Amended by Act No. 4947, Apr. 1, 1995; Act No. 5412, Nov. 14, 1997; Act No. 6265, Feb. 16, 2000; Act No. 6663, Mar. 7, 2002; Act No. 7189, Mar. 12, 2004; Act No. 7681, Aug. 4, 2005>


(2) For the purpose of paragraph (1), the term "interview" means that a candidate or an interviewee answers questions made by the organizer or
questioner about the platform and policy of the political party to which he/she belongs or candidate's political views and other matters, and the term "debate" means that not less than two candidates or debaters question and answer through the organizer on the subject concerning the platform and policy of the political party to which they belong or candidate's political views and other matters under the direction of the organizer. <Amended by Act No. 5412, Nov. 14, 1997> 


(3) An organization which intends to hold an interview or debate under paragraph (1) shall report, in writing, the matters concerning the
organization such as the name of the host organization, name of its representative, seat of its office, number of its members, and ground for its establishment, and the name of the candidate, interviewer or debater, subject of the interview or debate, name of the moderator, method of proceedings, and the date, time and place, the number of anticipated participants, etc. to the competent constituency election commission or the Gu/Si/Gun election commission having jurisdiction over the meeting place, no later than two days before the beginning of the meeting, as prescribed by Regulations of the National Election Commission. In such cases, a written acceptance of the candidate, interviewer or debater to be invited shall be appended to the report.


(4) When an interview or debate under paragraph (1) is held, a sign indicating the interview or debate under paragraph (1) shall be placed or posted under Regulations of the National Election Commission. 


(5) An opportunity for an interview or debate under paragraph (1) shall be impartially offered for all candidates unless a candidate refuses to accept
the invitation, and the organization holding the interview or debate shall see to it that the interview or debate proceeds fairly.


(6) No political party, candidate, interviewer, debater, election campaign manager, chief of a election campaign liaison office, election campaign
worker, accountant in charge, or company, etc. having relations with a candidate or his/her family under Article 114 (2) shall offer, manifest an intention to offer, or promise to offer money, entertainment, or other interests to the organization sponsoring the interview or debate or the moderator.


(7) An organization holding an interview or debate under paragraph (1) shall not have the candidate bear its expenses. 


(8) The provisions of Article 71 (12) shall apply mutatis mutandis to interviews or debates to which candidates, etc. are invited.


<Newly Inserted by Act No. 5537, Apr. 30, 1998>


(9) The forms of the report on holding an interview or debate and the sign and other necessary matters shall be prescribed by Regulations of the
National Election Commission.


<Amended by Act No. 5412, Nov. 14, 1997>