South Korea has reportedly banned the use of social networking site, Twitter, during election time.

The prohibition has not been taken well by some people who want the election law to be revised.

According to the National Election Commission (NEC), restricting the use of Twitter during the pre-election period has been made under the election law, which bans the use of posters, printed materials, videos or "similar mediums" for campaigning until 180 days before a vote.

The NEC said that the messages exchanged on Twitter before the 180-day period, should only be limited to personal views. They should not look like campaign advertisements.

In the beginning, restrictions on campaign materials were established to limit the advantage of wealthy candidates over others. But in the world of technology, where everybody has access to social networking sites, it now seems outdated.

"It is an anachronism to apply the election law to Twitter", Democratic Party member of parliament Chung Dong-young said, calling the law unconstitutional and excessively strict.

However, the NEC has no intention to remove the ban on the use of video clips produced and shared among Web users, unless the election law is amended, an official said.

South Korea will hold local elections on June 2.