The National Election Commission announced that applications for registration of candidates for the 19^th National Assembly elections will be accepted by the election commissions managing electoral districts nationwide for two days from March 22 to 23.

Those who wish to run for the coming National Assembly elections must be Korean citizens over the age of 25 as of the election day and qualified by the Public Official Election Act, Article 19.

Applications for registration of candidates will be accepted between 9am and 6pm and the below documents need to be submitted:

< Documents to be submitted for the registration of candidates >

▲    An application form

▲    For a party-endorsed candidate, a nomination form from his/her party and for an independent candidate, a recommendation form containing supporting signatures of a certain number of voters

▲    A certificate of family relations [in case of applicants having any lineal ascendants or descendants, a certificate of family relations recording their names should also be submitted]

▲    Documents that prove the resignation and dismissal of applicants (only applied to those who are required to resign from their positions for candidacy according to the Public Official Election Act, Clause 1 to 3 and the main body of Clause 5, Article 53)

▲    A declaration of property owned by applicants, their spouses and lineal ascendants/descendants

▲    Records of military service done by applicants and their lineal descendants over the age of 18

▲    A declaration that proves the payment and default of income taxes/property taxes/comprehensive real estate taxes made by applicants, their spouses and lineal ascendants/descendants

▲    A document that shows criminal records

▲    A certificate of formal academic background

▲    A deposit of 15 million Korean won

▲    A registration of applicants’ seal imprints

The NEC will provide real-time progress updates on registration of candidates through its website (http://www.nec.go.kr) and mobile services. The NEC will also release information on property, military service records, criminal records, educational backgrounds and tax payment and default history on its website by election day.

Even if an individual has been registered as a candidate, he/she is not allowed to start official election campaigns until March 29, the start date of election period. Preliminary candidates may engage in election campaigns only in permitted ways until March 28. The NEC also asked voters not to engage in election campaigns except via internet or social network system until March 29.

<<Election calendar of the 19^th National Assembly elections>>

n  March 22 ~ 23: Candidate Registration

n  March 23 ~ 27: Application Period for Absentee Voting

n  March 29 ~ April 10: Official Election Campaigns Period

n  April 2: Confirmation of the Voters List

n  April 5 ~6: Voting of Absentee Voters

n  By April 6: Voting Guidance Leaflets to Be Sent Out to Each Household

n  April 11: Election day(Voting and Counting)

n  By April 23: Application for Reimbursement of Election Expenses

       *     By June 10: Election Expenses to Be Reimbursed