With about three months left until the June 3 local elections, pre-candidate registrations are continuing. As the resignation deadline for public officials running in the local races closed on the 5th, pre-candidate registrations have become more active.
According to the National Election Commission on the 6th, there were 3,388 pre-candidates for the June 3 local elections as of 7 a.m. that day. Pre-candidate registration for metropolitan mayors and governors and superintendents of education has been underway since the 3rd of last month, and for metropolitan and provincial council members and district, city council members and heads since the 20th of last month. Registration for county council members and county heads will begin on the 22nd.
The area drawing the most attention regarding local election candidates is "criminal records." As of 7 a.m. that day, 1,193 of the registered pre-candidates, or 35.2%, had criminal records. By race type, the figures were 45.8% for metropolitan mayors and governors, 39.9% for district, city and county heads, 35.8% for metropolitan and provincial council members, 33.4% for district, city and county council members, and 28.1% for superintendents of education.
By number of people, the Democratic Party of Korea, which has been active in registering pre-candidates, had the most with 647 people holding criminal records. It was followed by the People Power Party (352), The Progressive Party (104), independents (44), the Rebuilding Korea Party (28), the Reform Party (5) and the Justice Party (5). By ratio, the order was The Progressive Party (56.2%), the Justice Party (38.5%), the Rebuilding Korea Party (37.8%), the People Power Party (37.7%), the Democratic Party of Korea (33.1%), independents (29.3%) and the Reform Party (10%).
The final number and proportion of those with criminal records are expected to fluctuate depending on future pre-candidate registrations.
Among pre-candidates from the broader pro-government camp, many are former student activists, leading to numerous cases involving the Assembly and Demonstration Act, obstruction of the performance of official duties, and violations of the National Security Act. Still, across both ruling and opposition camps, criminal records for drunk driving, violations of the Dishonored Checks Control Act, and fraud were confirmed. In fact, among pre-candidates for Seoul district mayor, seven had drunk driving records. The Seoul district mayor pre-candidate with the most convictions had seven.
A website has also emerged that neatly organizes the profiles of local election pre-candidates. Kim Han-seul, a People Power Party council member in Guri, Gyeonggi, unveiled a website called "Modu-ui Seongeo" the previous day that links to National Election Commission data. The site visualizes the number of local election entrants, average age, share of women, and criminal records. Information on local election candidates is said to be updated around 7 a.m. daily.
Because local elections range widely from metropolitan mayors and governors to county council members, they have always sparked controversy over "unfit candidates." In particular, amid the recent flare-up in politics over so-called nomination donation scandals, the need for thorough eligibility screening is also emerging.
A political source said, "For local elections, nominations are handled by metropolitan and provincial party chapters, and elections are held across the country, so it is realistically difficult for the central party to review all screenings," adding, "As criticism that eligibility screenings are lax is raised every time regardless of party, the process must be conducted thoroughly so it can be fair."