The National Election Commission (NEC) of the Republic of Korea hosted the 2025 Seoul International Forum on Elections (SIFE) at COEX on July 15 at 9:00 AM.

Marking its 11th edition this year, the Seoul International Forum on Elections has been held annually since 2015 by the NEC to promote global democracy and the development of electoral systems. The forum serves as a platform for discussing key issues and exchanging professional knowledge.

The event opened with a welcoming ceremony, featuring remarks by Chairperson Rho Tae-ak of the NEC; Kim Eui-young, Chair of the Organizing Committee for the IPSA Seoul Congress; and H.E. Ivan Jančárek, Ambassador of the Czech Republic to Korea. The ceremony was followed by sessions attended by around 100 participants, including domestic and international election officials, political scientists, and members of foreign diplomatic missions in Korea.

In his opening remarks, Chairperson Rho stated,

“In many countries, attempts are being made to undermine trust in elections through disinformation. This is a serious threat faced by many democratic nations today, exacerbated by political polarization and the development of social media. It is also a challenge we must overcome. I hope today’s forum will serve as an opportunity to advance electoral systems and strengthen democracy.”

This year’s forum was held in conjunction with the 28th World Congress of the International Political Science Association (IPSA) under the theme “Restoring Trust in Elections.” It featured two panel discussions and one roundtable, where prominent scholars and election experts from Korea and abroad engaged in in-depth discussions on various election-related topics.

Panel 1: "Reform of Electoral Management and Systems"

This panel examined systems and case studies from around the world and discuss ways to improve Korea’s electoral procedures and systems.

Panel 2: "Reform of Electoral Education"

This session analyzed the relationship between civic education and trust in elections, and explore future directions for electoral education.

Roundtable Discussion

Kicking off with a keynote address by NEC Chairperson Rho, this session featured seven speakers, including Pablo Oñate, President of IPSA, and Kim Bum-soo, President of the Korean Political Science Association, who offered a broad range of insights on the restoration of electoral trust.

The NEC expressed its hope that this year’s forum will serve as a meaningful platform for restoring trust in elections, as well as enhancing transparency and fairness in the democratic process.