South Koreans Head to Polls in Key Local By-elections

SEOUL: South Koreans voted on Wednesday in critical local by-elections, choosing leaders for five key administrative positions including the education chief of Seoul. The elections are seen as a significant test of public sentiment toward the ruling People Power Party (PPP) and the opposition Democratic Party (DP), following the general elections held in April. According to Yonhap News Agency, the by-elections include the highly watched positions of the superintendent of the Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education, as well as district heads in Busan's Geumjeong District, Incheon's Ganghwa County, and Yeonggwang and Gokseong counties in South Jeolla Province. Voters began casting their ballots at 6 a.m., with polls closing at 8 p.m. across 2,404 polling centers nationwide. Former President Lee Myung-bak was among those seen voting in Seoul, highlighting the significance of these elections, which could influence the latter half of President Yoon Suk Yeol's term. Observers note that the results could either bol ster the PPP's standing after a tough defeat in the April parliamentary elections or give the DP and other minor parties a new foothold. The National Election Commission reported an 18.96 percent voter turnout by 4 p.m., including those who participated in early voting. The early voting turnout was recorded at 8.98 percent, with 775,971 out of the 8.64 million eligible voters casting ballots ahead of the official voting day. The elections are particularly critical for the PPP, which is seeking redemption in its traditional strongholds like Busan's Geumjeong District and Incheon's Ganghwa County. In Geumjeong, a tight race is unfolding between PPP candidate Yoon Il-hyun and DP candidate Kim Kyung-ji, who received last-minute support from the minor Rebuilding Korea Party. Additionally, the by-election for Seoul's education chief is underway after the previous office-holder, Cho Hee-yeon, was removed following a suspended prison sentence for abuse of power. The race is closely contested between Jung Keun-sik, a progressive candidate, and Cho Jun-hyuk, a conservative challenger. These elections are pivotal as they not only reflect the current political climate but could also set the stage for the upcoming presidential race, testing the leadership of potential candidates from both major parties.