Candidate registration begins for March 9 presidential election

Major presidential candidates pose before their TV debate at broadcaster MBN's studio in the Jung District, of Seoul, Feb. 11. From left are Democratic Party of Korea presidential candidate Lee Jae-myung, Justice Party candidate Sim Sang-jung, People's Party candidate Ahn Cheol-soo and People Power Party candidate Yoon Suk-yeol. Joint Press Corps

Candidate registration for the March 9 presidential election began Sunday, with all four main contenders, including the ruling party's Lee Jae-myung and the main opposition's Yoon Suk-yeol, registering on the first day to become the country's next president.

The National Election Commission (NEC) will receive candidacy registration for two days through Monday before the official 22-day campaign period kicks off Tuesday.

Along with Lee of the ruling Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) and Yoon of the People Power Party (PPP), Ahn Cheol-soo of the centrist People's Party and Sim Sang-jeung of the minor progressive Justice Party registered their candidacies on the first day, the NEC said.

Starting Tuesday, candidates can hold street campaigns, put up election posters, send campaign materials to voters, and release TV and radio commercials up until the day before the election.

The results of public polls cannot be published beginning March 3, six days before the election.

Before the presidential election, advance voting will take place March 4 and 5. Overseas Korean citizens who are registered as absentee voters will cast their votes from Feb. 23 to 28. (Yonhap)