Junseong Jung's Yeomin Dongrak (350) Electoral Blackout

Blackout refers to the worst power outage situation in which all electricity supply is cut off.

It is also called a 'massive blackout.'

Regardless of the cause, its ripple effects rival those of fires or floods.

The moment power supply is cut off at the national or city level, public hardship begins.

Communications and transportation, financial systems, smartphones, and the internet all become inoperable.

Public transportation including subways stops operations due to signal malfunctions.

After just 2 to 3 days, inconvenience transforms into concerns about 'survival.'

In homes, tap water stops flowing, and food in refrigerators begins to spoil.

Sewage systems also lose function. It becomes difficult to leave one's home.

As security functions cease, crimes occur in various places.

As time passes, the very foundation of modern civilization based on electricity shakes to its core.

This is why it is referred to as a 'great catastrophe.'

On the other hand, such 'blackouts' are often cited when discussing memory loss due to excessive drinking.

It is accompanied by 'memory loss' commonly expressed as 'the film went blank.'

The term is also used during national crises involving press control, blackout of lights, and news censorship.

Blackout also occurs during election periods.

It refers to the period in which the publication and citation of public opinion polls are prohibited.

In Korea, this is called the 'blackout period' or 'blackout period' in elections.

From the voters' perspective, it is a colloquial term given because it is as if experiencing a 'blackout' on the stage of elections.

Currently, the June 3 local elections fall within this period.

The prohibition on releasing public opinion polls as the election approaches stems from concerns about distortion of election results.

The intention is clear: to prevent swing voters from being swayed by public opinion poll results released when voting is imminent.

It is also interpreted as an effort to prevent 'fake public opinion polls' intentionally designed to favor certain forces from influencing voters.

However, major developed nations do not have such periods prohibiting the publication of public opinion polls.

According to a survey by the World Association for Public Opinion Research, countries with advanced democracy such as the United States, United Kingdom, Germany, Sweden, and Australia fall into this category.

Even countries with publication prohibition clauses have average prohibition periods of around 1 to 2 days, which is shorter than Korea's 6 days.

In any case, during this period, voter interest is growing as to whether vote preferences will fluctuate in the final stages or remain unchanged.

Additionally, there is growing opinion to abolish the clause prohibiting publication of public opinion polls in order to guarantee voters' right to know and ensure electoral fairness.

Experts point out that the 'blackout period' favors incumbent lawmakers with higher name recognition over political newcomers, making this argument even stronger.