Seoul: Turnout in Wednesday's local elections surpassed 60 percent, the election watchdog said, marking the highest participation rate since the first nationwide local elections in 1995.

According to Yonhap News Agency, the National Election Commission (NEC) reported that more than 27.1 million out of 44.64 million eligible voters had cast their ballots, with the final tally still undetermined. The reported 60.7 percent turnout is less than the 68.4 percent turnout in the 1995 elections but higher than the 60.2 percent recorded in the 2018 polls, making it the second highest to date.

In comparison, the previous local elections in 2022 saw a final turnout of 50.9 percent, highlighting a significant increase in voter participation this year. The NEC's data underscores a growing engagement among the electorate in the local governance process.