Seoul: Many South Koreans headed to the polls Friday in early voting for next week's local elections and parliamentary by-elections, widely seen as a referendum on President Lee Jae Myung's first year in office. Eligible voters can cast ballots at 3,571 polling stations nationwide from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. until Saturday, according to the National Election Commission (NEC).
According to Yonhap News Agency, more than 4.12 million, or 9.25 percent, out of 44,649,908 registered voters cast their ballots as of 4 p.m., based on data from the NEC. The voter turnout was higher than the 8.22 percent recorded at the same time on the first day of early voting for the 2022 local elections. Many political leaders, including President Lee and first lady Kim Hea Kyung, were among those who cast their ballots early. The first couple voted at a community center near Cheong Wa Dae, while Prime Minister Kim Min-seok cast his vote at a polling station in western Seoul and encouraged others to participate.
More than 44.6 million people are eligible to vote in this year's local elections. The elections encompass 16 mayoral and gubernatorial posts, 227 local government leadership positions, and approximately 4,000 local council seats. Additionally, 14 vacant Assembly seats are being contested in parliamentary by-elections, with notable candidates like Han Dong-hoon, former leader of the main opposition People Power Party (PPP), seeking election.
In a poll released by the NEC last Thursday, 73.6 percent of respondents indicated they would definitely vote in the upcoming elections, with 39.4 percent planning to do so during the early voting period. These elections are viewed as the first major nationwide vote for the Lee administration since taking office last June, following former President Yoon Suk Yeol's removal over his attempted martial law bid.
Both the ruling Democratic Party (DP) and the PPP have been urging voters to participate this week. The DP calls for a decisive judgment against what it describes as the "remnants" of Yoon's insurrectionist forces. Recent polls indicate tightening races in more regions than initially anticipated, despite the DP's hopes for a significant victory. The DP seeks to maintain its momentum to advance the Lee administration's key policies, while the PPP aims to strengthen the conservative bloc amid internal conflicts following the martial law declaration.
The capital area, home to half of the country's population, is regarded as a crucial battleground by both parties. The Seoul mayoral election is a competitive 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 percent compared to Oh's 36 percent. Another closely watched contest is the parliamentary by-election in the Buk-A constituency in Busan, where Ha Jung-woo, former presidential secretary for AI policy and future planning, faces independent Han Dong-hoon and former PPP lawmaker Park Min-shik.