The election may come as early as the first half of the year if the Constitutional Court upholds the parliamentary impeachment of President Park Geun-hye in mid-March.

Park was impeached by parliament in December on allegations that she colluded with her confidante Choi Soon-sil in extorting money from conglomerates and let her exercise influence over state affairs.

The parliament, however, failed to pass a proposal to lower the minimum voting age by one year to 18, in the face of opposition from the conservative bloc which will be adversely affected by young voters' participation in elections. (Yonhap)