South Koreans hit polls on last day of early voting for June 3 local elections
Seoul, May 30
Voters across the country headed to the polls Saturday on the second and last day of early voting for next week's nationwide local elections, which will decide the next mayors and governors of major local governments, including Seoul and Busan.
More than 6.86 million people, or 15.38 per cent, out of 44.6 million registered voters cast their ballots as of 11 a.m. after early voting began at 6 a.m. the previous day, according to the NEC.
The voter turnout was higher than the 13.65 per cent recorded at the same time on the second day of early voting for the 2022 local elections.
On social media, Lee urged voters to participate in voting, calling it the "lifeline" of democracy.
"Giving up voting is the same as giving up your and your family's future," he wrote on X. "Abstaining from voting is not being neutral but siding with those who harm your life and community."
Lee and first lady Kim Hea Kyung cast their early votes Friday at a community center near Cheong Wa Dae, Yonhap news agency reported.
Up for grabs are 16 mayoral and gubernatorial posts, along with 227 heads of local governments and some 4,000 members of local councils.
The upcoming elections are widely viewed as the first major nationwide vote for the Lee administration since it took office last June after former President Yoon Suk Yeol was ousted over his failed martial law bid.
Both the ruling Democratic Party (DP) and the main opposition People Power Party (PPP) have been rallying voters to hit the polls, with recent polls suggesting that races are tightening in more regions than earlier expected.
The Seoul mayoral election has shaped up to be a fierce two-horse race between incumbent Oh Se-hoon of the PPP and ruling party candidate Chong Won-o.
A Hankook Research poll released Monday showed Chong leading with 42 per cent against Oh's 36 per cent.
In the southeastern city of Daegu, a traditional conservative stronghold, PPP candidate Choo Kyung-ho faces off with DP candidate Kim Boo-kyum in a tight race.
In a survey conducted Monday and Tuesday by Ace Research and commissioned by Daegu MBC, Choo led with 47.1 per cent, ahead of Kim at 45.7 per cent.
In the country's second-largest city of Busan, Chun Jae-soo of the DP was leading PPP candidate Park Heong-joon, the city's incumbent mayor seeking a third term, in multiple polls released this week.
Eyes are also on the parliamentary by-elections that will fill 14 vacant National Assembly seats, with political heavyweights, such as Han Dong-hoon, former leader of the PPP, vying for positions.
In Busan's Buk-A constituency, independent Han is competing against Ha Jung-woo, former presidential secretary for artificial intelligence (AI) policy and future planning, and former PPP lawmaker Park Min-shik.
In a poll released by the NEC last Thursday, 73.6 per cent of respondents said they will definitely vote in the upcoming elections. Of them, 39.4 percent said they intended to cast ballots during the early voting period.
— IANS
Reader Comments
Lee's message about voting being the "lifeline" of democracy is so true—it applies everywhere, including India. But I wonder if the political infighting we see in Korea mirrors what happens here. Abstaining might seem like a protest, but it only weakens the system. Let's hope more people realize that.
From a global perspective, it's fascinating to watch South Korea's local elections unfold. The tight races in Seoul and Daegu remind me of our own competitive state elections back home in the US. Even the concept of early voting is catching on everywhere. Democracy is messy but necessary.
I appreciate the detail on the Seoul mayoral race—Chong leading Oh is quite a shakeup! But I wish the article had focused more on issues like infrastructure or education, which matter most to local voters. Understanding what drives these tight races would be more insightful for us. 😊
South Korea's election dynamics are always interesting, especially with the PPP vs DP rivalry. In India, we have our own intense party battles, but seeing a former PPP leader run as an independent in Busan shows how fluid politics can be. It's a reminder that no system is perfect, but participation is key. Good luck to all candidates!
The early voting stats are solid but not mind-blowing. I'm curious why they're so high compared to 2022—maybe the political climate post-Yoon is driving more engagement. For us in Canada, early voting is growing too. It's a good practice to make elections accessible.
We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.