Nurlan Mazhituly Abdirov, chairman of Kazakhstan's Central Election Commission, poses before an interview with The Korea Times in Seoul, Friday. Korea Times photo by Kim Hyun-bin

Nurlan Mazhituly Abdirov, chairman of Kazakhstan's Central Election Commission, praised the strength of Korea's democratic institutions and advanced voting methods during his recent trip to the country.

Abdirov, who arrived on April 4 for a nine-day trip, observed the entire process of the April 10 general elections, including vote counting, adopting lessons from Korea's electoral practices.

Abdirov's visit was aimed at observing Korea's general elections and delving into the nuances of early voting and ballot counting procedures. His impressions were overwhelmingly positive, emphasizing the active and composed participation of voters.

He highlighted the importance of ensuring the convenience of early voting. Abdirov stressed that while electoral bodies play a crucial role, the primary focus should be on making the voting process "convenient and transparent for citizens."

"When it comes to early voting, our priority is to ensure that the process is convenient for the voters, not just for the electoral bodies," Abdirov said during an interview with The Korea Times in Seoul, Friday. "No matter the stage of voting, our goal remains the same: transparency and fairness."

Abdirov pointed out that while people can adapt to various voting procedures, it is essential to develop the right algorithms, methods and processes to make voting accessible and straightforward. He emphasized the importance of creating a tradition around voting that naturally encourages proper behavior in voters and fosters a sense of civic duty.

"The development of appropriate algorithms and methods can lead to voting becoming a tradition. As it becomes ingrained in society, this tradition can shape the collective mindset, influencing how people perceive the electoral process," Abdirov stated.

"A person can get used to anything and can adapt to anything," he said, emphasizing the potential for well-designed procedures to become ingrained in societal norms.

Reflecting on the evolution of Korea's elections over the past six decades, Abdirov highlighted the professionalism and transparency of the process, crediting the accumulated experience of the National Election Commission and local election commissions.

"Any election is crucial, but parliamentary elections hold particular significance as they form the backbone of legislative power," Abdirov said. "I witnessed voters engaging with the process calmly and freely, a testament to the maturity of the state and society."

Abdirov commended Korea's utilization of technology, particularly counting machines, as a means to streamline the ballot counting process. He also praised the adoption of early and multi-day voting, citing Korea's high voter turnout during these periods as evidence of its effectiveness.

Early voting in Korea, spanning two days from April 5 to 6, hit a record-high 31.28 percent.

The chairman emphasized the importance of international cooperation in electoral matters, citing the memorandum of understanding between Kazakhstan's Central Election Commission and Korea's National Election Commission as a vital platform for collaboration.

"In Kazakhstan, we prioritize training members of electoral commissions at all levels," Abdirov said. "Professionalism and adherence to the law are essential for ensuring fair and honest elections."

The chairman expressed interest in Korea's experience, particularly in implementing early and multi-day voting, biometric identification measures and electronic voter lists. He believed these measures could enhance Kazakhstan's electoral system.

Reflecting on his visit, Abdirov expressed satisfaction with his productive meetings with key figures in Korea's electoral landscape. He thanked both Korean authorities and the Embassy of Kazakhstan in Seoul for their support in organizing the visit.

"In addition to gaining insights into Korea's electoral system, I hope this visit will strengthen cooperation between our countries," Abdirov said. "I am grateful for the opportunity to witness firsthand how elections are conducted in Korea and to engage in meaningful dialogues with electoral officials."