Seoul: Two-day early voting for the upcoming local elections concluded with a historic turnout of 23.51 percent, as reported by the election watchdog. This marks the highest turnout rate for such polls, with over 10.4 million people participating out of the 44.6 million registered voters. The early voting period, which started at 6 a.m. on Friday, ended at 6 p.m. on Saturday, according to the National Election Commission (NEC). The turnout surpassed the 20.62 percent recorded during early voting for the 2022 local elections. The main voting day is set for Wednesday.
According to Yonhap News Agency, President Lee Jae Myung took to social media to encourage voter participation, emphasizing the critical role of voting in democracy. He remarked, "Giving up voting is the same as giving up your and your family's future," and stressed that abstaining from voting aligns with those who harm societal interests. President Lee and First Lady Kim Hea Kyung cast their early votes on Friday.
The elections will fill 16 mayoral and gubernatorial positions, 227 local government heads, and approximately 4,000 local council seats. This election is seen as a crucial test for the Lee administration, which assumed office last June following the ousting of former President Yoon Suk Yeol.
Both the ruling Democratic Party (DP) and the main opposition People Power Party (PPP) have been actively engaging voters, with recent polls indicating increasingly competitive races. In Seoul, the mayoral election is a closely watched contest between incumbent Oh Se-hoon of the PPP and DP candidate Chong Won-o. A poll by Hankook Research showed Chong leading with 42 percent, while Oh trails with 36 percent.
Campaign activities have been in full swing, with Chong engaging with the public at Mount Gwanak and Seongdong, while Oh focuses on northwestern Seoul and proposes redevelopment plans. In Daegu, PPP candidate Choo Kyung-ho is in a tight race with DP candidate Kim Boo-kyum. A survey by Ace Research revealed Choo slightly leading with 47.1 percent against Kim's 45.7 percent.
In Busan, DP candidate Chun Jae-soo is ahead of the incumbent PPP candidate Park Heong-joon in several polls. The elections also include parliamentary by-elections for 14 National Assembly seats, featuring notable figures like former PPP leader Han Dong-hoon. In Busan's Buk-A constituency, Han is competing against Ha Jung-woo and former lawmaker Park Min-shik.
A recent NEC poll highlighted that 73.6 percent of respondents intend to vote, with 39.4 percent opting for early voting.