WASHINGTON, USA – The OAS and the government of the Republic of Korea held a virtual meeting yesterday to learn from South Korea’s successful experience in holding elections during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The meeting, organized with the support of Korea’s ministry of foreign affairs, included presentations by senior officials from the Korean National Electoral Commission (NEC). The chief of staff of the OAS Secretary General, Gonzalo Koncke, said that the lessons learned will help the Organization and its member states strengthen the institutional capacities of their electoral bodies during the pandemic to safeguard the continuity of democratic processes.
The director of the department of electoral cooperation and observation of the OAS, Gerardo de Icaza, shared the experiences of the OAS Electoral Observation Missions during the first semester as well as the publication of the Guide to Organizing Elections in Times of Pandemic.
The Republic of Korea is a strategic partner of the OAS, participating as a Permanent Observer in meetings and cooperating in areas such as Electoral Cooperation Missions, the Observatory on Democracy and Development, and humanitarian assistance.
Director-General for the Americas Hwang Kyung Tae, from the ministry of foreign affairs, highlighted Korea’s commitment to continue promoting more prosperous and democratic societies in the Americas.