Public Officials Research Articles

Stability in Sight: Leveraging Machine Learning for Proactive Political Risk Management in the United States of America

This paper explores the application of machine learning (ML) in political risk management, with a specific focus on recent trends in political violence in the United States OF America. The growing intersection of political polarization, disinformation, and societal unrest has created a volatile political climate, as evidenced by events such as the January 6 Capitol insurrection and rising threats to public officials. The paper argues that machine learning could play a critical role in mitigating such risks by analyzing large datasets, including social media interactions, political speeches, and public sentiment, to predict potential flashpoints of violence. Through predictive analytics, sentiment analysis, and anomaly detection, ML can enhance decision-making processes and provide timely interventions to avert violent incidents. Additionally, case studies demonstrate ML’s superiority over traditional methods in risk assessments. Despite the challenges associated with ML, such as data privacy concerns, algorithmic bias, and the complexity of political contexts, this paper argues that machine learning holds immense potential in transforming political risk management. By integrating diverse data sources and refining risk models, ML can significantly improve accuracy and efficiency in predicting and mitigating political risks. The paper concludes with recommendations for further integrating ML tools in political risk strategies to address the increasingly unstable political environment.

The Impact of Incitement by Public Officials in the Commission of Genocide: the Case of Ethnic Amharas in the Oromia Region

Abstract Insecurity has worsened in one of the eleven regions of Ethiopia, Oromiya, due to the killings of innocent Amharas. While there is increasing academic attention on the origins, causes, and nature of this threat, the role of the incitement of public officials in the commission of the killings and/or genocide in the region remains understudied. Accordingly, foregrounded by the need to unravel this gap, this qualitative study contributes to the literature through organised empirical research by examining Ethiopia’s public officials’ speeches and/or incitement, which might have helped in the commission of ethnic Amhara genocide in the Oromiya region since 2018. Three critical world events served as the main theoretical foundations for the analysis of incitement to genocide: the Nuremberg Prosecutions, the United Nations Genocide Convention, and the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda. It was found that both Prime Minister Abiy’s and Shimelis Abdisa’s speeches have mounted to qualify as incitements to genocide by being concomitant to the context, purpose, and causation. It is thus sufficient to remark that the speeches are used to further instigate genocide against ethnic Amharas. The study’s central argument holds that the causal link between the speech in question and the massacre in the region doubles the synthesis, although the UN Convention does not require a direct causal link.

Burkholderia multivorans Infections Associated with Use of Ice and Water from Ice Machines for Patient Care Activities - Four Hospitals, California and Colorado, 2020-2024.

Ice machines can harbor water-related organisms, and the use of ice or tap water for clinical care activities has been associated with infections in health care settings. During 2021-2022, a total of 23 cases of infection by Burkholderia multivorans (sequence type ST659) were reported at two southern California hospitals and linked to contaminated ice and water from ice machines. In addition to these 23 cases, this report also includes 23 previously unreported cases of B. multivorans ST659 infections that occurred during 2020-2024: 13 at a northern California hospital, eight at a hospital in Colorado, and two additional cases at one of the southern California hospitals. The same brand of ice machine and brands of filters, descaling, and sanitizing products were used by all four hospitals; B. multivorans was isolated from samples collected from ice machines in two of the hospitals. Whole genome sequencing indicated that all clinical and ice machine isolates were highly genetically similar (0-14 single nucleotide variant differences across 81% of the selected reference genome). Recommendations from public health officials to halt the outbreak included avoiding ice and tap water during clinical care activities. An investigation is ongoing to determine possible sources of ice machine contamination. During outbreaks of water-related organisms in health care facilities, health care personnel should consider avoiding the use of tap water, including ice and water from ice machines, for patient care.

Exploring pathogen population density as a metric for understanding post-COVID infectious disease surges.

After the easing of COVID-19 restrictions, peaks of common infectious diseases surpassed pre-pandemic levels, raising questions about causes and ways to monitor these changes. A proposed measure, the Pathogen Population Density (PPD) score, could help track these shifts. PPD refers to the concentration of infectious agents within a population at a given time and location, serving as a potential indicator of infection levels in susceptible individuals at the population level. It is likely that PPD remains relatively stable within a specific community, as an equilibrium forms between infections and susceptibility. During the pandemic, nonpharmaceutical interventions (NPIs) led to a reduction in infectious diseases, possibly lowering population immunity and decreasing the PPD score. Once NPIs were lifted, the PPD score likely increased sharply due to a larger pool of susceptible individuals, causing more primary infections and stronger recurrent infections, faster transmission, and more severe pathogenic outcomes at the individual level. Monitoring the PPD score over time could help predict when infection peaks will occur. PPD is influenced by factors such as public health strategies, vaccination programs, and the behavior of high-risk individuals. As a quantitative measure, PPD has the potential to serve as a valuable predictive and monitoring tool, helping public health officials anticipate and track changes in infectious disease dynamics. It could be an effective tool for managing future outbreaks or pandemics and serve as a communication tool between scientists and the public to understand the emergence of new disease peaks.

Polarization versus professionalism: military and civilian views on the domestic use of the military

Abstract Scholars and policymakers warn that with rising affective polarization, politicians will find support from the public and permission from military professionals to use military force to selectively crack down on political opponents. We test these claims by conducting parallel survey experiments among the US public and mid-career military officers. We ask about two hypothetical scenarios of domestic partisan unrest, randomly assigning the partisan identity of protesters. Surprisingly, we find widespread public support for deploying the military and no significant partisanship effects. Meanwhile, military officers were very resistant to deploying the military, with nearly 75 percent opposed in any scenario. In short, there is little evidence that public polarization threatens to escalate domestic disputes, and strong evidence for military opposition.

Exploring Climate Leadership Features of Public Officials Through Narratives: Evidence From Turkish Municipalities

This article explores the narratives of local public officials involved in leading efforts to develop climate change policies in innovative Turkish municipalities. The objective of the article is to offer insights into the leadership roles of these public officials, aiming to uncover distinct leadership features while crafting climate change policies within Turkish municipalities and to propose distinctive types of leadership they exhibited. To elucidate the dimensions of public officials’ leadership, the research employs a narrative research approach. Accordingly, leadership features identified from the literature are utilized as the analytical framework for the narratives. The results demonstrate that the interviewed public officials exhibited common leadership attributes that impact the shaping of climate change policies. This is particularly valuablein cases where the central government may not be sufficiently ambitious in taking steps forward. Additionally, the research indicates that officials’ leadership styles vary, even though they exhibit common leadership features.

Demystifying Knowledge Work Practices and Performance in the Public Sector

The performance of the public sector, especially its officers, is vital to a nation’s growth in light of the challenges clouding public service. Despite numerous efforts and initiatives, the level of efficiency of Malaysian public sector officers remains feeble, and public dissatisfaction has led to criticism of the administration. Therefore, addressing issues surrounding the performance of public sector officers is imperative to improve public perception. Guided by Drucker’s knowledge work productivity theory, this research aims to discover the relationship between knowledge work practices toward affective commitment (AC) and knowledge worker performance (KWP). This research adopted a cross-sectional design involving a survey of 395 administrative and diplomatic officers who were recruited via stratified random sampling. A variance-based structural equation modeling using Smart PLS 4.0 was conducted to analyze the data. Results show that job crafting (JC) and continuous learning (CL) improve KWP, job-related innovation (JRI) does not impact KWP, and AC exerts a mediating impact on the relationship between knowledge work practices and KWP. This study provides impetus to knowledge productivity and human behavior by integrating JC into Drucker’s theory. Doi: 10.28991/ESJ-2024-08-05-015 Full Text: PDF

Buyouts in the Carolinas: Pre & Post buyout perspectives of public officials and community leaders

Compound floods in rural, low-income communities are rising across the United States as storms intensify and weather patterns change. In communities experiencing repeated back-to-back flooding, the events impact residents who have lived in those areas for many generations. Voluntary buyouts of properties at risk of repeat flooding are increasingly being offered as a long-term mitigation solution. This study looks at the consequences of buyout programs in two low-income, underserved, and predominantly Black communities, Bennettsville, South Carolina and Tarboro, North Carolina, that have experienced compound floods (e.g. rain and riverine flooding). Results from in-depth interviews conducted with public officials and community leaders in Bennettsville and Tarboro reveal buyout governance characterized by state-led implementation. While buyout programs have historically been implemented by local governments, the intention to achieve greater implementation efficiency underlies recent state-led efforts. Nevertheless, state-led implementation in South and North Carolina has not resolved long-standing issues within the buyout program that center around program design and communications. Further, while the state-led implementation of buyouts is expected to ease financial pressures on local governments, it can also create unintended consequences for local communities including extended delays, lack of trust in the government, and more confusion over the buyout process. The study recommends the use of a more localized approach and providing program implementation assistance to local governments through established protocols, and creating communication and trust with buyout communities through direct accessible flow of information using multiple modes and a trusted local point of contact.

Conceptualizing the Antecedents and Individual Impact of Business Intelligence in the Public Sector: The Technology-Organisation-Authoritative Framework

Business intelligence (BI) refers to a technological tool and process that transforms large and fragmented data into well-informed graphical insights to aid managerial decision-making. Recognizing the significant benefits of BI in leveraging extensive amounts of data, governments have been progressively investing in BI tools to improve efficiency in public offices. Nevertheless, despite a significant body of knowledge related to BI adoptions and their advantages, there is a dearth of theoretical understanding of how the effective use of the system affects employees' work performance, particularly among civil servants who have distinctive work natures compared to businesses. Most studies have also ignored external and institutional factors that influence individual usage, whilst studies on the effective use of BI tools remain limited. The paper thus proposed a new conceptual framework for examining the factors that influence the effective use of BI and its impact on individual job performance. The suggested propositions could provide a theoretical contribution by integrating technological, organizational and authoritative dimensions that are novel and unique to the public sector. It would also contribute to practical understandings for public managers and policymakers in ensuring the investment made on BI is worthwhile. Ultimately, the paper seeks to bridge the gap in BI studies related to public organizations.

The Roles of SERVICOM in Service Delivery in Nigeria

Governments all over the world including Nigeria, have preferred better ways to provide welfare services to the citizens with fewer resources. Service Compact (SERVICOM) with all Nigerians was a direct response to improving service delivery in Nigeria which sought ways to provide welfare services to all the citizens with limited resources, enhancing transparency and accountability of public servants. This paper examined the extent to which the application of SERVICOM as a public policy has improved upon service delivery of the Nigerian public service, arising from the background that it serves as the machinery upon which governmental policies are implemented. This paper brought to the fore the critical importance of public service delivery to the citizens in a timely, honest, appreciable and effective manner under democratic dispensation. The importance of SERVICOM has resonated in all public organizations, with an emphasis on healthcare delivery and education sector. The paper however unearthed that some of the reforms of government including SERVICOM has not changed the attitudes of some public servants and other public officers. This paper relied heavily on secondary data collection which included review of related literature, online analysis of some related reforms, use of some periodicals, upon which findings were made. This paper recommended amongst others training, and retraining with ICT touch, and the establishment of monitoring teams to enforce adequate compliance. The national orientation agency should also be empowered to commence enlightenment campaigns for the entire citizens.

Predictive modelling of the effectiveness of vaccines against COVID-19 in Bogotá: Methodological innovation involving different variants and computational optimisation efficiency

The uncertainty associated with the future of viruses such as SARS-CoV-2 poses a challenge to public health officials because of its implications for welfare, economics and population health. In this document, we develop an age-stratified epidemiological-mathematical model to predict various health outcomes, considering the effectiveness of COVID-19 vaccines. The analytical model proposed and developed for this research is based on the approach constructed by the COVID-19 International Modelling Consortium. Following this approach, this paper innovates at the frontier of knowledge by including the various variants of SARS-CoV-2 in the Consortium model. Furthermore, for the first time in international literature, a complete compilation of the formal mathematical development of this entire quantitative model is presented. Our model accurately fits the observed historical data of new infections, cumulative mortality, symptomatic infections, hospitalisations, and Intensive Care Units admissions, capturing the waves of contagion that have occurred in Bogotá, Colombia. In turn, the prognosis obtained indicates a considerable decrease in the incidence and lethality caused by SARS-CoV-2 under current conditions, thus evidencing the effectiveness of vaccines against infection, hospitalisation, and death. This model enables the evaluation of different scenarios in response to changes in the dynamics of this infectious disease, providing information to policymakers for real-world evidence-based decision-making.

Blood EPA and DHA status among people living in the United States from 2000 to 2023

Long-chain omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (n-3 PUFAs), specifically eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA, C20:5n-3) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA, C22:6n-3), are well-known for their various health benefits, including cardiovascular and cognitive health. In this study we explored the EPA+DHA blood status across different states within the United States. A widely used marker to assess the EPA+DHA status is the omega-3 index – defined as the % of EPA+DHA in red blood cells (RBC) in relation to total fatty acids. A systematic literature search was conducted for US-studies from 2000 until October 2023 reporting EPA+DHA blood values. Further inclusion criteria were: information in which US state the study was carried out, no pregnant women, at least 16 years of age. A total of 46 studies met all inclusion criteria. EPA+DHA levels from studies utilizing blood metrics other than RBC were converted to an estimated RBC EPA+DHA (eRBC EPA+DHA) status marker using established conversion equations. The mean eRBC EPA+DHA across the US was 5.28% and, is in line with previous investigations. Most US states showed an average eRBC EPA+DHA in the range 4.50% to 5.50%. Furthermore, we found that coastal states tend to have higher eRBC EPA+DHA (5.26%) than inland states (4.86%). This is consistent with the slightly higher fish consumption in coastal states compared to inland states. The data from the studies included in the evaluation show that the blood status of EPA+DHA is suboptimal. The supply of EPA and DHA should be improved, especially in inland states. Further research is needed to better monitor EPA+DHA status in the US. Since the EPA+DHA blood status is a modifiable risk factor for many diseases, public health officials should take steps to emphasize the significance of n-3 PUFAs in preserving the health of the US population.

Sex differences in COVID-19 vaccine confidence in people living with HIV in Canada

BackgroundUnderstanding the roots of vaccine confidence in vulnerable populations, such as persons living with HIV (PLWH), is important to facilitate vaccine uptake, thus mitigating infection and spread of vaccine-preventable infectious diseases. In an online survey of PLWH conducted in Canada during winter 2022 (AIDS and Behav 2023), we reported that the overall COVID-19 vaccination uptake rate in PLWH was similar by sex. Here, we examined attitudes and beliefs towards vaccination against COVID-19 based on sex. MethodsBetween February and May 2022, PLWH across Canada were recruited via social media and community-based organizations to complete an online survey consisting of a modified Vaccine Hesitancy Scale (VHS) questionnaire with items from the National Advisory Committee on Immunization Acceptability Matrix. Descriptive statistics were used to summarize participant characteristics and responses to the VHS questionnaire by biological sex. The effect of biological sex on total VHS score, two subscales (“lack of confidence” and “perceived risk”) was assessed separately by linear regression adjusting for other key baseline variables. ResultsOf 259 PLWH, 69 (27 %) were females and 189 (73 %) were males. Sixty-six (26 %) of participants self-identified as a woman, 163(63 %) as a man and 28(11 %) as trans/two-spirited/queer/non-binary/agender/other. The mean age (SD) was 47 ± 14 years. Females were less likely to believe that COVID-19 vaccination was: important for his/her own health (71 % vs. 86 %); a good way to protect themselves from infection (68 % vs. 86 %); that getting the COVID-19 vaccine was important for the health of others in his/her community (78 % vs. 91 %); believed recommendations by their doctor/health care provider about COVID-19 vaccines (78 % vs. 88 %); that information about COVID-19 vaccines from public health officials was reliable and trustworthy (56 % vs. 75 % vs); COVID-19 vaccines are effective in preventing COVID-19 infections (61 % vs. 82 %) and that all COVID-19 vaccines offered by government programs in their communities were important for good health (70 % vs. 87 %). Although more males than females felt that new vaccines generally carry more risks than older vaccines (19 % vs 16 %,), fewer males than females endorsed concern about serious side effects of COVID-19 vaccines (33 % vs 45 %).The linear regression model showed females had a significantly higher VHS total score than males (adjusted mean difference 0.38; 95 % confidence interval (CI) 0.13–0.64; p = 0.004), indicating greater COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy among females. It was observed that females had a greater “lack of confidence in vaccines” score than males (adjusted mean difference 0.43; 95 % CI 0.14–0.73; p = 0.004). We did not observe a significant difference in “perceived risk in vaccines” between males and females (adjusted mean difference 0.20; 95 % CI −0.07–0.46; p = 0.1). The inadequate number of participants self-identifying as different from biological sex at birth prevented us from analyzing the VHS score based on gender identity. ConclusionsAmong PLWH, females showed greater COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy than males. Specifically, compared with males, females had a higher level of lack of confidence in vaccines. Fewer females than males believed that COVID-19 vaccines had health benefits at both the personal and societal level and that recommendations made by their doctor/health care provider and public health officials are reliable and trustworthy. Further investigation into reasons for this difference in opinion still needs to be elucidated. Educational interventions targeted toward females living with HIV are especially needed to increase confidence in vaccination.

Impact of green hydrogen on climate change in Peru: An analysis of perception, policies, and cooperation

This research analyzed the impact of green hydrogen (GH) on the dynamics of combating climate change (CC) in Peru for the year 2024, contributing to Sustainable Development Goal 7, focused on affordable and clean energy. The study, quantitative and non-experimental in nature, used a cross-sectional design and focused on a sample composed of public and private sector officials, energy experts, and academics, evaluating their perception and knowledge about GH and its application in climate policies. The data collection instrument showed good internal consistency with a Cronbach’s alpha value of 0.793.The results revealed that although the adoption of GH is in its early stages, it is already considered a vital component in national CC mitigation strategies. A medium positive correlation was identified using the Spearman coefficient (0.418) between GH usage and the effectiveness of mitigation policies, as well as its capacity to influence public awareness and promote interinstitutional cooperation. Furthermore, it was concluded that the success of GH largely depends on the strengthening of regulatory frameworks, investment in infrastructure, and the promotion of strategic alliances to facilitate its integration into the national energy matrix.These findings highlight the importance of continuing to develop public policies that promote the use of GH, ensuring its sustainability and effectiveness in the fight against climate change in Peru.

Long-term communication of aftershock forecasts: the Canterbury Earthquake Sequence in Aotearoa, New Zealand

On 14 February 2016, a magnitude (M)5.7 earthquake struck in Christchurch, Aotearoa, New Zealand. The shaking caused damage to historic facades, power outages, cliff collapses, rock falls, liquefaction but no reported injuries or fatalities. This Valentine’s Day earthquake was an aftershock in the Canterbury earthquake sequence (CES), which began on 4 September 2010 with the M7.1 Darfield Earthquake and included the destructive and fatal M6.2 Christchurch aftershock on 22 February 2011. This study eight months after the Valentine’s Day earthquake and six years after the initiation of the CES is the first to explore long-term aftershock forecast information and communication needs. The exploratory study also aimed to gather feedback on aftershock scenarios, an alternate form of communication of the forecast.The qualitative study involved workshops with emergency managers, public health officials, and members of the public in Christchurch. Key findings for long-term communication throughout an earthquake sequence include: 1. divergent earthquake experiences affect aftershock communication response and information needs; 2. understanding aftershock sequence behavior is foundational to sense-making when large aftershocks occur; 3. strategic earthquake sequence updates from the trusted science agency and local agencies could serve as important reminders for earthquake preparedness; 4. communication of aftershock forecast uncertainty could aid with both the credibility of the information and living with uncertainty, and 5. inclusion of impact information and preparedness advice into aftershock forecast scenarios could provide links to actionable information. The paper derives implications for research and practice of long-term communications during an aftershock sequence.

Pil-Pintar Intervention Reduce Anemia among Young Teen Girls: A Pilot Study

Background: Iron deficiency anemia and low adherence to take iron tablets are prevalent issues among teenage school girls in Indonesia. To address this concern and encourage regular iron supplementation, the public health office of Sukoharjo Central Java Indonesia introduced a pil-pintar program, colloquially known as the “smart pill.” Aims: This study aimed to measure the increase in hemoglobin (Hb) levels and its correlation with nutrient intake related to Hb synthesis following the pil-pintar intervention. Methods: A quasi-experimental design with a one-group pre-posttest approach was performed involving 49 school teenage girls aged 12-15 years in a public school in Sukoharjo, Indonesia. Each student was given an iron sugar coat tablet containing 182 mg of ferrous-fumarate (equivalent to 60 mg elemental iron) and 0.400 mg of folic acid per tablet, called pil-pintar, once a week for 12 weeks. Results: A decrease in anemia prevalence by 24.4% and a notable increase in Hb levels by 1.0 mg/dL (p = 0.001) were observed in the 12 weeks of intervention. However, the study found no association between the nutrient intakes related to Hb production and the resulting Hb levels. Conclusion: The pil-pintar program effectively improved the hemoglobin levels of anemic teenage girls in the Sukoharjo district, Indonesia.

The specifics of public authorities' communications in social networks on the example of using the remote electronic voting system in the presidential elections of the Russian Federation in 2024

The subject of the study is the communicative process arising in the digital space in the context of the use of remote electronic voting (hereinafter referred to as DEG) in the presidential elections of the Russian Federation in 2024. The purpose of the work is to develop practical recommendations for improving the communicative interaction of the state and society in social networks. The authors analyze new forms of interaction between government agencies and the public, as well as conflict situations arising in this regard. Particular attention is paid to the perception of the DEG system by citizens, the identification of factors causing negative reactions, such as technical failures and insufficient information support from government agencies. The author also discusses the issues of mediatization of political processes in the context of digitalization and information warfare. In addition, the author examines the tactics of government agencies' reaction to negative comments and fakes. Statistical methods of analysis of official publications and comments, as well as elements of sentimental and critical discourse analysis were used for the study. The scientific novelty of the work lies in the study of public communications related to the introduction of DEG, as an example of the mediatization of political processes in Russia. The study identifies key factors that provoke conflict situations in the process of using the DEG system, such as technical failures and insufficient level of advice on solving these problems. Conclusions are drawn about the need to improve feedback from the public, increase information transparency of the system and develop more effective solutions for technical support. Measures to reduce conflict in communications through the use of mediation technologies and strengthening dialogue between government agencies and society are also proposed. In addition, this work emphasizes the need for further research and improvement of mediatized interaction processes.

Social Media Memory of January 6: Content Analysis of Twitter One Year Later

ABSTRACTWe report on the results of a content analysis of a random sample of tweets (n = 16, 480) about the January 6th insurrection published one year after the attacks. Drawing from research on social media memory, far‐right activism, and social memories in times of crises, we performed a deductive manual coding of the tweets. We found that roughly four of every ten Twitter users remembered the U.S. Capitol attack as an insurrection. Importantly, though, the insurrection frame was adopted by users who were in favor and against the attack. The other most frequent frames were censorship, used by people who aimed to discredit the idea that there had been an insurrection; treason, used by people across the political spectrum to claim that “the other side” had betrayed the United States; fear of other, employed by users who blamed “the others” for the insurrection and its aftermath; and accountability, used by people against the insurrection to call for the attackers to face justice and its leaders to be barred from holding public office. We also noticed that the different frames were not exclusive. Those who used the term “insurrection” frequently used others such as accountability, censorship, treason, terrorism, and conspiracy.

The Power of Cultural Validation: A Global Strategy for Combating Infectious Diseases

Cultural Validation is a technique that works to increase access and break down barriers for what many policymakers and public health officials identify as “hard to reach populations.” During the COVID-19 Pandemic, policymakers and public health officials often cited “vaccine hesitancy” as a key challenge to reaching vulnerable populations, including immigrants, Spanish-speaking communities, and others who have been marginalized. Yet, community-based programs utilizing “Cultural Validation” techniques demonstrated that barriers to access – not hesitancy – were the true culprits. In fact, public health partnerships, laws, policies and funding that support the full integration of Cultural Validation techniques can ensure vaccine equity across the board. Cultural Validation can be applied to any community, and its success is made possible by four 4 key factors: • Researching and getting to know people in the community through genuine and authentic relationship-building prior to engagements. • Developing culturally relevant materials and marketing strategies. • Hosting events at places that are familiar to the community. • Providing genuine, authentic care in service delivery

선거공영제 관련 규정의 형성과 전개 - 선거운동 방법에 관한 일본과 한국에서의 논의를 중심으로

Article 116 (2), and, in a broader sense, including Article 116 (1) of the Constitution, stipulate the Election Campaign Management and Funding System. This system aims to ensure equal opportunities for election campaigns among candidates, reduce the influence of money in the electoral process, and prevent corruption in elections. The Election Campaign Management and Funding System can be categorized into two types: one where certain election campaign methods are supported or subsidized by the state, and another where only the election campaign methods explicitly permitted by the state are allowed, while all other private methods are prohibited. However, within an Election Campaign Regulation system that comprehensively regulates campaign methods, the former type of public election system often operates similarly to the latter. This is because candidates, unable to freely choose their campaign methods, are de facto limited to using only those methods supported or subsidized under the Election Campaign Management and Funding System. Both the Japanese and Korean systems exemplify this phenomenon. In Japan, the 1934 revision of the House of Representatives Election Law established a structure of ‘extensive regulation and limited permission’ regarding election campaigns. Consequently, election campaigns in Japan became largely confined to methods permitted and subsidized by the state. Similarly, the 1958 Act on the Election of Members of the House of Commons in Korea established a framework of ‘comprehensive regulation and exceptional permission,’ akin to Japan's system. The framework created by the 1994 Act on the Election of Public Officials and the Prevention of Election Malpractices, enacted after the 1987 Constitution, is also similar. It is challenging to assert that the structure has fundamentally changed under the current Public Official Election Act in Korea. As a result, election campaigns by candidates de facto continue to be largely confined to the methods allowed under the Election Campaign Management and Funding System. Given the importance of the freedom to conduct election campaigns, it is necessary to eliminate the comprehensive regulation of campaign methods in the current Public Official Election Act. Such a change would better enable the Election Campaign Management and Funding System to achieve its objective of supporting and subsidizing election campaigns.