The annual Miss Korean pageant will host its regional preliminaries for the national-level event.

Selected over three months, from April to June, the top three winners from each region will qualify to vie for the coveted 2012 crown.

The main event in Seoul is scheduled for early July.

The country is divided into fourteen regions for administrative purposes and Korean residents and in Japan and the Americas.

Miss Korea 2012 and two runners-up will compete in the following year’s Miss Universe, Miss International and Miss Earth.

The competition is the oldest one in the country, having been held annually year for 55 consecutive years. It is sponsored by the Hankook Ilbo, a sister company of The Korea Times.

The current title holder is Lee Seong-hye, who won the crown on Aug. 3 last year.

Dates and deadlines for registration vary for different regions. An information session is scheduled for March 23. Pre-registration is necessary.

Call 02-724-2611, e-mail misskorea@hk.co.kr, or visit http://misskorea.hankooki.com for more information, especially on the requirements for entry.