The National Election Commission announced Thursday that it had banned eight personal, private support groups for the major presidential candidates and ordered two others to suspend activities, as they were breaking the Presidential Election Law. In addition the NEC said it had reported leaders of five of the groups to the Supreme Public Prosecutor's Office for violating the law.

The commission noted the Hamaro Hiking Club, which supports Grand National Party presidential candidate Lee Hoi-jang, was in breach of the law by organizing regional chapters that matched electoral regions to build political support for Lee's bid.

It added Rohsamo, which is Millennium Democratic Party candidate Roh Mu-hyun's fan club, had actively participated in collecting funds and on September 19 openly declared its support for him, all of which violated the law.

Chungwoon Hiking Club put placards showing their support for the National Alliance 21's Chung Mong-joon outside his office, and on November 16 its leader gave a speech to rally support for him.

The commission said that if the groups do not take note of the orders by November 25, then it would enforce legal action.

In response to the announcement, the GNP and NA21 said they would comply with the NEC ruling, however the MDP's Rohsamo refused to do so.

(Yoon Jeong-ho, jhyoon@chosun.com )