Democratic Party Gwangju City Branch Opens First Gate for Local Election Nominations: Preliminary Candidate Screening

Qualification Screening Applications Open from January 13 to 20 for All Electoral Districts
Nomination Briefing Session to Be Held on January 12 at Kim Daejung Convention Center

The Gwangju Metropolitan City branch of the Democratic Party of Korea has begun preparations for the 9th nationwide local elections by announcing an open call for preliminary candidate qualification screening applications.

On January 10, the Gwangju Metropolitan City branch of the Democratic Party of Korea announced that it would conduct preliminary candidate qualification screenings to select candidates who will responsibly carry out local administration and legislative duties through a fair and transparent nomination system in accordance with party regulations. This process marks the starting point for local election nominations, focusing on verification of morality and competence.

The open call covers all electoral districts, including basic local government heads, metropolitan council members, basic council members, proportional representatives for metropolitan councils, and proportional representatives for basic councils in Gwangju. Both prospective candidates and incumbents wishing to run in the 9th nationwide local elections are eligible to apply.

Applicants must have the right to run for public office under the Public Official Election Act and, as of the application date, must be registered members of the Democratic Party. Completion of at least 16 hours of internal party training, including gender equality education, is also required. In certain competitive districts for metropolitan council members designated for women, only female applicants may apply. For proportional representative positions in metropolitan councils, eligibility is limited to persons with disabilities and youth; for basic council proportional representatives, eligibility is limited to women and youth.

Applications will be accepted through the central party's online application system from 9 a.m. on January 13 until 4 p.m. on January 20. Some documents must be submitted in their original form.

The Gwangju City branch will hold an explanatory session on candidate nominations at 2 p.m. on January 12 in Room 301 of the Kim Daejung Convention Center. The session will provide information on criteria for disqualification, nomination screening standards and methods, as well as future nomination procedures and key dates.

Yang Bunam, head of the Gwangju City branch, stated, "The preliminary candidate qualification screening is an essential initial step in the local election nomination process," adding, "We will prioritize fairness and morality to select responsible candidates who meet the expectations of our citizens."