Seoul, Feb 6 (TIWN): With the South Korean presidential election fast approaching, the country's National Election Commission is hastening its preparations for the March 9 vote amid a surge in daily Covid-19 infections driven by the highly contagious Omicron variant.

According to the NEC, political parties' presidential candidates have to formally register on February 13 and 14, reports Yonhap News Agency.  The candidates' official 22-day campaign period is set to kick off on February 15.  Three rounds of TV debate among candidates have been scheduled during the official campaign period.  Starting from Monday, gatherings of political party members will be banned under an election law.  Overseas Korean citizens who are registered as absentee voters will cast their votes on February 23-28.  Sailors will cast their votes aboard their ships from March 1-4.  Advance voting will take place from March 4-5.