The National Election Commission announced that recommendation forms would be sealed and issued to those who seek to run for the 18th Presidential Election as independent candidates from October 26. They may collect supporting signatures from voters on these forms.

Individuals who wish to run for the upcoming Presidential Election shall receive signatures of more than 3,500 voters across more than 5 Si/Dos on recommendation forms sealed with the NEC’s stamp of approval. The number of supporting signatures to get from one Si or Do shall be over 700 and the total number of recommenders shall not exceed 6,000.

A brief introduction of those seeking to run for the election may be provided including their career information when they ask voters for supporting signatures. An individual voter who intends to recommend an independent candidate shall fill in his/her name, date of birth, address, etc. and stamp his/her seal on the recommendation form (thumbprints to be regarded as invalid).

Applications for sealing and issuing a recommendation form are accepted 9am to 6 pm every day including public holidays.

The NEC has stressed that a recommendation form sealed with a stamp of approval by the NEC shall be used for collecting supporting signatures. Anyone who obtains supporting signatures from voters on a recommendation form not sealed with the NEC’s stamp of approval or who receives signatures from more than 6,000 voters as part of election campaign shall be sentenced to imprisonment of less than a year or a fine of less than KRW 2 million in accordance with Article 256 Clause 4 of the Public Official Election Act.