Early voting for next week's presidential election gets underway

A voter casts his ballot at a polling station in Daegu on May 29, 2025. Yonhap

SEOUL, May 29 (AJP) - Early voting for the upcoming presidential election began at about 3,500 polling stations nationwide on Thursday, as South Koreans prepare to head to the polls next week to elect the country's next president.

The two-day early voting period runs through Friday, allowing voters to cast a ballot at any polling station nationwide between 6 a.m. and 6 p.m., regardless of their registered address, as long as they present a valid ID.

Out of 44.39 million eligible voters, 3.11 million cast their ballots as of 11 a.m., showing a record turnout of 7 percent, the highest by that time, compared to 5.38 percent in the 2022 presidential election.

Voters can find information about the nearest polling locations on the website of election watchdog National Election Commission (NEC) as well as through several mobile apps. The NEC will also provide hourly updates on voter turnout to enhance transparency and dispel any suspicions of fraud or vote rigging.

According to the NEC, no one is allowed to cause disturbances, support or oppose candidates, or solicit votes within 100 meters of polling stations. Taking pictures of ballots inside election booths, as well as posting them on social media, is also prohibited. Violators can face up to two years in prison or fines of up to 400 million won (US$2,900).

Meanwhile, presidential candidates have been making all-out efforts to garner as much support as possible, encouraging people to vote early.

As a show of determination to win the race, Kim Moon-soo, the presidential candidate of the ruling People Power Party (PPP), cast his early vote in Gyeyang, Incheon, the constituency of his rival Lee Jae-myung of the main opposition Democratic Party (DP), who remains far ahead in most polls.

Kim hopes to come from behind to reverse the race, despite his desperate last-minute efforts to unite with Lee Jun-seok of the minor centrist Reform Party (RP) falling through the previous day.

The DP candidate also voted the same day at a polling station in Sinchon, Seoul, while the younger Lee cast his vote in Hwaseong, Gyeonggi Province.

Kwon Young-kook of the minor progressive Democratic Labor Party voted in Yeosu, South Jeolla Province.

As the snap election follows the premature ouster of President Yoon Suk Yeol over his botched martial law debacle late last year, polling hours on June 3 will be extended by two hours from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m.

According to a survey of over 1,500 voters nationwide conducted by pollster Gallup Korea over the last weekend, some 86.8 percent of respondents said they would "definitely vote," while around 9.5 percent said they intend to do so "if possible." More than half or 53.6 percent said they plan to vote on election day, with the rest intending to vote early.

Park Sae-jin swatchsjp@ajunews.com

Early voting for next week's presidential election gets underway

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