Seoul: Voters across South Korea headed to the polls Saturday on the second and last day of early voting for the upcoming nationwide local elections scheduled for June 3. These elections will determine the next mayors and governors of major local governments, including key cities like Seoul and Busan.
According to Yonhap News Agency, more than 8.82 million people, accounting for 19.77 percent of the 44.6 million registered voters, had cast their ballots by 3 p.m. This turnout surpasses the 17.38 percent recorded at the same time during the early voting for the 2022 local elections. President Lee Jae Myung emphasized the importance of voting on social media, describing it as the "lifeline" of democracy and urging citizens to participate.
Lee and First Lady Kim Hea Kyung participated in early voting on Friday at a community center near Cheong Wa Dae. The elections include contests for 16 mayoral and gubernatorial positions, 227 local government heads, and approximately 4,000 local council members. This election is seen as a significant test for the Lee administration, which came into power 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 active in encouraging voter turnout, with recent polls indicating competitive races in more regions than initially expected. The Seoul mayoral race has emerged as a closely contested battle between incumbent Oh Se-hoon of the PPP and Chong Won-o of the ruling party. A recent Hankook Research poll showed Chong leading with 42 percent, compared to Oh's 36 percent.
In Daegu, traditionally a conservative stronghold, PPP candidate Choo Kyung-ho is in a tight race with DP candidate Kim Boo-kyum. A poll conducted by Ace Research for Daegu MBC showed Choo leading with 47.1 percent against Kim's 45.7 percent. In Busan, DP's Chun Jae-soo is leading against incumbent mayor Park Heong-joon of the PPP in several polls.
Attention is also focused on the parliamentary by-elections for 14 National Assembly seats. Notable figures, including Han Dong-hoon, former PPP leader, are contending for positions. In Busan's Buk-A constituency, independent Han is challenging Ha Jung-woo, former presidential secretary for AI policy, and former PPP lawmaker Park Min-shik.
An NEC poll released last Thursday indicated that 73.6 percent of respondents intend to vote in the elections, with 39.4 percent planning to do so during the early voting period.