'Number 3' is void… A total of 7 candidates confirmed
As of the deadline for candidate registration for the 21st presidential election on the 11th, a total of 7 candidates have officially registered with the National Election Commission. On this day, the election commission finalized the designations for the registered candidates, with the number 3 being left blank as the Justice Innovation Party, which is one of the three parties in the National Assembly, did not present a candidate.
The officially registered candidates and their designations are as follows: Candidate number 1 is Lee Jae-myung from the Democratic Party, number 2 is Kim Mun-soo from the People Power Party, number 4 is Lee Jun-seok from the Reform Party, number 5 is Kwon Young-guk from the Democratic Labor Party, number 6 is Ku Ju-hwa from the Liberty Unification Party, number 7 is independent Hwang Kyo-ahn, and number 8 is independent Song Jin-ho. In the actual ballot, number 3 will also be printed as blank.
According to the Public Official Election Act, designations are assigned in order of the number of seats held in the National Assembly, with parties that do not have seats assigned numbers in alphabetical order, and independents determined by a lottery.
With Jeon Kwang-hoon and Heo Kyung-young out… Ku Ju-hwa and Song Jin-ho surprise registration
Some individuals who were previously mentioned in the presidential race did not meet the registration threshold. The Liberty Unification Party registered lawyer Ku Ju-hwa as a candidate instead of pastor Jeon Kwang-hoon, who had initially announced his intention to run. Jeon has been deprived of his eligibility to run due to a suspended prison sentence for violating the Public Official Election Act.
Mr. Heo Kyung-young, who was referred to as a 'regular candidate', also did not run in this presidential election. He received a 2-year prison sentence and a 3-year suspended sentence from the Supreme Court for disseminating false information during the previous presidential election, resulting in a 10-year restriction from running for office under election law.
According to the election commission, the final 7 candidates were confirmed after Kim Mun-soo submitted his documents on the last day following the 6 candidates who completed registration on the 10th.
Disclosure of assets, criminal records, and military service… Official election campaigning to intensify from the 12th
The personal information of this presidential election's candidates has also been disclosed. Candidates Lee Jae-myung and Kim Mun-soo each had three prior criminal records, Kwon Young-guk had four, and Song Jin-ho had 17 confirmed criminal records.
Regarding military service, candidate Lee Jae-myung was judged as unfit due to the effects of a fracture, and Kim Mun-soo due to a middle ear surgery, while Lee Jun-seok, Ku Ju-hwa, and Song Jin-ho reported that they had completed their military service.
In terms of asset status, independent Hwang Kyo-ahn reported the highest at 3.317875 billion won, followed by Democratic Party's Lee Jae-myung with 3.089143 billion won, and Democratic Labor Party's Kwon Young-guk with 2.51938 billion won. Reform Party's Lee Jun-seok reported 1.470897 billion won, Liberty Unification Party's Ku Ju-hwa reported 1.741193 billion won, and independent Song Jin-ho reported 288.665 million won.
With candidate registration now completed, the official election campaign period will run from midnight on the 12th until June 2nd, lasting 22 days. During this period, candidates and parties can carry out all official election campaign activities such as street rallies, debates, and distributing election pamphlets.
Image sources: Kim Mun-soo candidate / News1, Lee Jae-myung candidate's campaign vehicle / News1, independent Hwang Kyo-ahn candidate / News1
