The National Election Commission (NEC) of the Republic of Korea announced that registration for preliminary candidates for re or by-elections to be held on April 12, 2017 began on December 30. However, preliminary candidate registrations for head of Gun(county level) and council members for Gun elections start from January 29.

Registration of preliminary candidates for these re or by-elections will be held until March 22, the day before the commencement of the full candidate registration period. This re or by-election is being held for constituencies where the reasons for elections are confirmed between March 15, 2016 to March 13, 2017. The reasons include invalidation of the original election result, a resignation, retirement or death of the elect.

However, for constituencies where the reasons for re or by-election occurs between March 14 and 30 days before the 19th presidential election, the election will be held simultaneously with the presidential election. 

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

A person who wishes to register as a preliminary candidate must submit supporting documents, including a certificate of residence, a criminal record check, and a certificate of formal education, and must pay 20% of the deposit of a full candidate.

If a person who is a public official or holds a similar position wishes to register as a preliminary candidate, they should resign before preliminary candidate registration. However, if such a person wishes to register as a candidate without registering as a preliminary candidate, they must resign before March 13, 30 days before the election.

Preliminary candidates may set up a campaign office, distribute business cards for campaign, or wear a campaign sash or sign.

In addition, it is possible to campaign through direct phone calls and to send preliminary candidates'' promotional materials to households within the range of the number announced by the NEC (not above 10% of the number of households in an election district).

Preliminary candidates must register again during the full candidate registration period (March 23 to 24), and those who have not registered as preliminary candidates may still register as candidates during that period.

If you have any questions about preliminary candidate registration or how to run campaigns, you can call 1390 or contact your local election commission.