By Kim Hyo-jin
Preliminary candidate registration for the general elections slated for April next year began Tuesday.
However, candidates are expected to have problems when launching their campaigns if the Assembly fails to resolve disagreement over a proposed redrawing of parliamentary constituency boundaries.
The registration period will last through March 23, while official campaigning is only permitted for two weeks before the April 13 election, according to the National Election Commission (NEC).
If registered as preliminary candidates, candidates can open offices in constituencies where they are seeking to be elected and hang banners in public. They can distribute campaign information through e-mails, text messages and phone calls; and distribute election pledges to their electoral districts on a limited basis. They can target 10 percent of all voting households in constituencies, the NEC noted.
They are also allowed to set up a supporters' association and are permitted to raise campaign funds of up to 150 million won ($126,800).
According to the NEC, 132 candidates are registered in 246 constituencies as of 3 p.m. on Tuesday.
Concerns are increasing especially among candidates who plan to stand for election in constituencies that could be merged or divided.
They said they will have difficulties in launching election campaigns without knowing where the electoral boundaries lie.
"I'm confused whether I can canvass in an area which is likely to be merged," a candidate said.
If the parliamentary talks on redrawing the constituency boundaries are further delayed until next year, the preliminary registration will become null and void according to the Constitutional Court's ruling.
Preliminary candidate registration for the general elections slated for April next year began Tuesday.
However, candidates are expected to have problems when launching their campaigns if the Assembly fails to resolve disagreement over a proposed redrawing of parliamentary constituency boundaries.
The registration period will last through March 23, while official campaigning is only permitted for two weeks before the April 13 election, according to the National Election Commission (NEC).
If registered as preliminary candidates, candidates can open offices in constituencies where they are seeking to be elected and hang banners in public. They can distribute campaign information through e-mails, text messages and phone calls; and distribute election pledges to their electoral districts on a limited basis. They can target 10 percent of all voting households in constituencies, the NEC noted.
They are also allowed to set up a supporters' association and are permitted to raise campaign funds of up to 150 million won ($126,800).
According to the NEC, 132 candidates are registered in 246 constituencies as of 3 p.m. on Tuesday.
Concerns are increasing especially among candidates who plan to stand for election in constituencies that could be merged or divided.
They said they will have difficulties in launching election campaigns without knowing where the electoral boundaries lie.
"I'm confused whether I can canvass in an area which is likely to be merged," a candidate said.
If the parliamentary talks on redrawing the constituency boundaries are further delayed until next year, the preliminary registration will become null and void according to the Constitutional Court's ruling.
