The NEC announced that the preliminary candidate registration to run for the elections for the district representative of the National Assembly begins from December 13 at local election commissions.

Any one who applies for the registration of a preliminary candidate shall pay KRW 3 million of the deposit money and submit the following documents: evidentiary documents concerning qualifications to become a candidate such as a family relation certificate; evidentiary documents concerning criminal records; and certificates concerning the regular academic background.

Public officials and any others who are restricted from becoming a candidate due to their posts shall resign their posts by 90 days (January 12, 2012) before the election day; however, to be a preliminary candidate even before January 12, those are required to resign before the registration.  

Moreover, the head of a local government, where he intends to run for an election of a National Assembly member for a local constituency which is the same as or overlapping with his jurisdictional area, shall resign from his post no later than 120 days (December 13, 2011) before the election day.

Any preliminary candidate may wage an election campaign in a manner falling under any one of the following subparagraphs:

l  Establishing an election campaign office; and installing or posting the signboards, tablets or hanging placards at the election campaign office;

l  Handing out the name cards that state his/her own name, photograph, telephone number, academic background, career and other matters necessary for publicity;

l  Transmitting texts, voice, pictures or motion images, and other information, by e-mails;

l  Sending campaign literature by mail within a number equivalent to 10/100 of the number of households located within the constituency;

l  Wearing sashes or marks indicating a preliminary candidate for conducting an election campaign;

l  Appealing for support by means of direct telephone conversations;

l  Transmitting election campaign information by using text messages (excluding voice, pictures or video clips).

The NEC plans to open the “Election Academy” course which will educate members and officials of political parties and prospective candidates on practical information for the election including violation cases, election campaigns, Manifesto, effective ways to prepare campaign materials and election campaign methods in order to encourage policy-oriented elections and fair environment.

[Timetable of the 19^th National Assembly Elections]

l  Deadline of the Overseas Voter Registration and Overseas Absentee Application : February 11, 2012

l  Candidate Registration Period : March 22 ~ March 23, 2012

l  Absentee Application Period(Domestic) : March 23 ~ March 27, 2012

l  Overseas Voting Period : March 28 ~ April 2, 2012

l  Election Campaign Period : March 29 ~ April 10, 2012

l  Election day(Counting day): April 11, 2012