With 120 days to go until the 9th nationwide local elections on the 3rd, registration for preliminary candidates for metropolitan heads and superintendents begins simultaneously at the 17 city and provincial election commissions nationwide. Once registered as a preliminary candidate, campaigning is allowed within limits even before the official campaign period.
The National Election Commission said that starting today it will accept registrations for preliminary candidates for the June 3 local elections for metropolitan governors and education superintendents. Candidates must be at least 18 years old as of election day (born on or before June 4, 2008) and must pay 10 million won, one-fifth of the candidate deposit, to the competent city or provincial election commission to register.
To register as a preliminary candidate, the applicant must submit to the competent city or provincial election commission: certificates related to eligibility for candidacy such as a copy of the resident registration; a certificate of criminal record; a certificate of formal education; and the preliminary candidate deposit of 10 million won. Preliminary candidates for superintendent must additionally submit a "nonparty-member confirmation" in line with the duty of political neutrality.
Candidates who complete registration may campaign within limits. They may set up a campaign office and hand out campaign name cards, and they are also allowed to wear sashes or identifiers and sell preliminary candidates' pledge booklets.
Starting on the 20th, registration opens for preliminary candidates for metropolitan councilors and basic local government heads, and starting on the 22nd of next month, registration begins for county councilors and county mayors. Registration for official candidates runs for two days from May 14, and the official campaign period is 13 days from May 21. Early voting is May 29–30, and the main vote is June 3.