The race is on.
The official campaigning period for the June 13th local elections kicked off at midnight today... around ten hours ago.
Most of the candidates began their campaigning in the wee hours,... in hopes of wooing as many voters as possible.
Over the next 13 days,... it will be all hands to the pump,... reaching out to people in a variety of ways and selling their policy pledges to the public.
Koreans will be electing mayors, governors, chiefs of local councils and education superintendents... who will represent them for the next four years.
As it's the first nationwide election under the Moon Jae-in administration,... the results will be a barometer of public sentiment towards the government.
The ruling Democratic Party of Korea is seeking a landslide victory,... considering the high approval rating of the president and the party itself.
By-elections will also be held in twelve districts nationwide -- the outcome of which will determine which party say more say in parliamentary affairs.