The presidential campaign was officially launched today in South Korea as a total of 15 candidates have officially registered to run for the election. 
The candidates will participate in this 22-day campaign period, which will conclude on May 8. 
At the forefront of those candidates is the Democratic Party nominee Moon Jae-in, Hong Joon-pyo of the former ruling Liberty Korea Party, Ahn Cheol-soo of the center-left People's Party, Yoo Seong-min of the conservative Bareun Party and Shim Sang-jun of the Justice Party. 
South Korea's election law awards the spots on the ballot to the candidates based on the number of seats their parties hold in the National Assembly. 
The Democratic Party currently controls 119 seats with the former ruling party holding 93 seats, while the Bareun and Justice parties control 40 and 33 seats, respectively. 
The number of registrants broke the previous record of 12 in 1960 and 2007, according to the National Election Commission (NEC). 
According to the Constitution and South Korea's general election law, presidential elections must take place within 60 days after the Constitutional Court issues a ruling to impeach the former president. 
Former President Park Geun-hye was dismissed from presidency by the Constitutional Court on March 10 for her involvement in "corruption cases." 

Source: QNA