[Yoon Seok-yeol Impeachment] Election Commission "Preliminary Candidate Registration for the 21st Presidential Election Starts from the 4th"

Overseas Absentee Voter Registration Begins Today
NEC to Hold Full Commission Meeting on the 7th
Early Presidential Election Plans Expected to Be Discussed

The National Election Commission announced on the 4th that the registration of preliminary candidates for the 21st presidential election has begun following the dismissal of former President Yoon Seok-yeol.

In a press release on the same day, the NEC stated, "With the confirmation of the reason for the presidential vacancy election, the registration of preliminary candidates for the 21st presidential election has started from today."

Those who wish to become preliminary candidates must submit documents proving their eligibility to run, such as a family relation certificate, criminal record certificate, and proof of formal education, to the National Election Commission, and pay a deposit of 60 million won (20% of the candidate deposit of 300 million won). However, if the preliminary candidate is registered as a disabled person under Article 32 of the Act on Welfare of Persons with Disabilities, only 50% of the deposit must be paid.

Preliminary candidates may establish election offices, distribute election campaign business cards, create and send promotional materials within 10% of the total number of households nationwide, wear or carry sashes or badges, and publish one type of preliminary candidate pledge booklet, which can be sold by ordinary methods (excluding door-to-door sales) for election campaigning.

Even those who are not preliminary candidates or election staff may campaign at any time by sending text messages, using internet homepages, or sending emails, and may also campaign by phone or verbally when it is not election day.

However, to campaign by sending text messages via automatic broadcast communication or by entrusting an email transmission agency to send emails, one must be registered as a preliminary candidate or candidate. Automatic broadcast communication refers to sending messages simultaneously to more than 20 recipients or using a program to automatically select recipients when the number is 20 or fewer.

Yonhap News

The NEC also announced that from today, overseas absentee voter registration will begin for voters registered in the resident registration who wish to vote abroad. Overseas absentee voters, such as students studying abroad, expatriates, and travelers, can register via the NEC website, by visiting diplomatic missions in person, or by mail or email. Overseas voters who can register at any time (Korean nationals not registered in the resident registration) can also apply for registration using the same methods.

Additionally, the NEC announced that those intending to run as independent candidates in this election can receive recommendations from voters using recommendation letters verified and issued by the NEC starting from the 7th. They must receive recommendations from between 3,500 and 6,000 voters across five or more cities/provinces, with at least 700 voters recommended from each city/province.

Recommendations do not have to be received directly by the candidate, and the candidate may verbally inform voters of their career to obtain recommendations. However, using unverified recommendation letters or receiving recommendations exceeding the upper limit of 6,000 for election campaigning may result in imprisonment for up to one year or a fine of up to 2 million won.

According to Article 90 of the Public Official Election Act, facilities that influence the election by displaying the name of a political party, the name or photo of a candidate or prospective candidate, or any facility that allows inference of such names or photos, cannot be installed or posted. However, installation or posting of banners or facilities by a political party supporting or opposing a specific party or candidate outside the election period, without bias, regarding their policies or political issues, is considered normal party activity and is protected.

Meanwhile, the NEC will hold a full commission meeting chaired by Chairman No Tae-ak at the Gwacheon office at 10:30 a.m. on the 7th to discuss plans for the early presidential election and election measures. It is reported that Acting President and Prime Minister Han Duck-soo and Chairman No reached a consensus during a phone call on the same day to designate June 3 as the election day for the presidential election.