Preliminary Candidate Registration for the 19th Presidential Election to Begin from March 10

= Registration for overseas absentee voting has also begun and the NEC will issue recommendation certificates to independent candidates from March 13  =

When registered as a preliminary candidate, the candidate may:

• Establish a campaign office

• Distribute election campaign cards

• Develop and send campaign material to a maximum of 10% of households nationwide 

• Use campaign sashes or markers

• Make direct campaign phone calls

• Publish and sell in the normal manner one preliminary candidate pledge book

During the 17th presidential election, in which there was no provision for the payment of donations during the preliminary registration period, a total of 186 candidates were registered as preliminary candidates, of which 34 either passed away, resigned or had their registration invalidated. During the 18th presidential election, in which deposits were paid during the preliminary registration period, 18 preliminary candidates were registered, of which 6 candidates either resigned or had their registration invalidated. 

Also from March 10, those who are registered as residents in Korea but plan to vote from abroad may begin to register as overseas absentee voters. International students, expatriates, travelers and other citizens can register for overseas absentee voting on the NEC website (http://ova.nec.go.kr), by visiting an overseas mission, by email or by post. Applications for overseas voting can also be made in the same way, which is available for permanent overseas residents (those who have Korean citizenship but are not registered as residing in Korea). Those 40,000 permanent overseas residents who applied for overseas voting for the 20th National Assembly elections are on the permanent overseas voters list and do not need to make another separate application for this election. 

In addition, the NEC is issuing accredited recommendation certificates to those who which to run as an independent candidate for this election in order for them to be able to petition voters for recommendations that are required for their candidacy. These recommendation petitions should have at least 3,500 but no more than 6,000 signatures, and from the names on the recommendation petition there must be at least 700 voters from a minimum of five different provinces. 

Recommendations do not have to be received directly by the candidate and the person petitioning for signatures may explain information about the candidate, including their career, in order to receive their recommendation. However, if a petition that has not been accredited is used, or a recommendation exceeding the limit of 6,000 signatures is submitted, the applicant may be sentenced to one year in prison or fined up to 2 million won ($1,700 USD).

As this presidential election is being held early, the NEC will give out information in advance and strengthen prevention activities in order to ensure there are no cases in which preliminary candidates do not understand the law and commit law violations.

In addition, The NEC expects that any serious election crimes such as the publication of false facts, slander, propaganda, voter buying or gift giving will be strictly punished, and voters are asked to carefully examine the candidates’ policies and commitments given that the election period is short.