Park announced earlier this week that he would not be seeking a second term, claiming that he had achieved everything he set out too.

The leading candidate to replace him will be close ally, Kim Jung-haeng, the former head of the Korea Judo Association and President of Seoul's Yongin University.

He is already one of three vice-chairmen of the KOC and will start as the overwhelming favourite to replace Park. 

Lee Elisa, who was part of the South Korean team that won the 1973 World Table Tennis Championships in Sarajevo, would become the first female President of the KOC if she wins the election. 

She was formerly the first female head of the Korean National Training Centre in Taeneung, stepping down in September 2008 shortly after South Korea finished seventh overall at Beijing 2008 with a total of 31 medals, including 13 gold.

She now represents the ruling Saenuri Party in the South Korean Parliament. 

Park Sang-ha, chairman of the International Soft Tennis Federation, who had lost to Park in the 2009 KOC election, had been expected to stand again.

But when the nominations closed today he was not among the official candidates.

The election is due to take place on February 22.

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