8,411 Candidates to Run in June 2 Local Elections

The June 2 local elections will have 8,411 candidates running for public office, based on those who registered as candidates Friday, the final day of registration.

The average competition rate in this year`s local elections is 2.1 to one, lower than that of 2006 and 2002, as certain opposition parties will field unified candidates. Forty-four candidates are running in gubernatorial and mayoral elections, and their competition rate is a tougher 2.75 to one, down from 4.1 in 2006 and 3.4 in 2002.

For the first time in the country`s local elections, ballots to elect municipal and provincial school superintendants will be held. The average competition rate for the posts is four to one, twice as high as that for gubernatorial and mayoral posts. The most highly contested district for school superintendant is Incheon at seven to one.

The average competition rate for the first and last direct poll for provincial and municipal educational lawmakers is 3.2 to one. In 2014, such posts will be abolished in return for more seats in provincial and municipal legislatures.

Women account for 13 percent of the contenders, up from 11.5 percent in 2006 and 3.6 percent in 2002, as the new election law requires parties to nominate at least one woman for lawmaker of either the provincial or fundamental legislature in an electoral district.

A combined 3,991 elected posts in provincial and municipal governments are up for grabs June 2, including the heads of 16 provinces and 761 metropolitan cities.

egija@donga.com