The NEC has closed the candidate registration on May 14, 2010 which was opened for two days. The total number of candidates for the 3,991 public posts was 10,020. The overall competition rate is 2.5:1 which has been slightly decreased from 3.2:1 in the 4th Nationwide Local Elections. The competition rates of Superintendent of Education(5.1:1) and Members of Gu/Si/Gun Council(2.3:1) charged the highest and the lowest, respectively. The below is the number of public posts, candidates and competition rate according to the type of elections.

Two characteristics of the candidate registration are founded. First of all, the number of women candidates has been inclined thanks to the amendment of Public Official Election Act. From 2010, political parties are stipulated to nominate more than one women candidate in elections for Si/Do councils and Gu/Si/Gun councils. The number of women candidates is 1,677(16.7%) compared to 1,411(11.5%) in the 4^th local elections. In addition, the number of candidates who will be elected without voting is increased from 46 in the 4^th local elections to 122 in the 5^th local elections. It is assumed that the introduction of election without voting in the cases of single candidacy impacts on this result.

The NEC has been investigating the eligibility of candidates through candidates’ education record, criminal record, etc. to make sure the fairness of the local elections since the close of candidate registration. Candidates who get through the investigation will run their election campaigns from May 20 to June 1, 2010. Besides, the absentee voting will be carried out from May 27 to 28, 2010.