Registration of Preliminary Candidates for the 20th National Assembly Begins from December 15

The National Election Commission (NEC) of the Republic of Korea has announced that the registration for preliminary district candidates for the 20th National Assembly elections will begin nationwide from December 15.  

Those planning to become preliminary candidates should submit documents to prove their eligibility such as their Family Relations Certificate, criminal record documents and certificates of education, as well as making a deposit of 3 million won ($2,500 USD), which is 20% of the 15 million won (12,500 USD) deposit that the final candidates will pay. 

Any public official who wishes to register as a candidate should resign 90 days before election day, which will be January 14 2016. All preliminary candidates must also register with the NEC by the registration deadline, which is also January 14 2016. 

In addition, if a head of a local government wishes to register as a preliminary candidate for the same or overlapped district where he/she is currently serving, they should resign their position 120 days before the election, which is December 15. 

For the campaigns of preliminary candidates, candidates may:

• • Establish a campaign office
• • Distribute election campaign cards
• • Use campaign sashes or markers
• • Make direct campaign phone calls
• • Send one campaign material to a certain number of households within the constituency as announced by the election commission (maximum 10% of households) 

Preliminary candidates may establish a Political Fundraising Association (PFA) and take donations worth up to 125 million won ($125,000 USD). 

The preliminary candidate registration system allows newcomers to the political arena an opportunity to make themselves known before the start of official campaigning. 

Registered preliminary candidates will also have to register during the final candidate registration period from March 24 to 25, 2016. Anybody who does not register as a preliminary candidate may also register as a final candidate during that period. 

If you have any questions regarding the requirements for preliminary candidate registration or the registration in general, you can call 1390 or contact your local election commission.

The NEC is giving out information to each candidate in advance to prevent preliminary candidates from violating election law due to misunderstandings, and is strengthening preventive measures. In addition, the NEC will strengthen surveillance systems such as the propaganda prevention task force, regional investigators and fair election support groups, and is preventing election law violations by devoting significant efforts to enforcement activities.