The Ministry of Interior announced on May 28 that it has conducted on-site inspections of early voting locations and finalized safety measures one day before the early voting for the June 3 local elections.
Early voting allows citizens who may have difficulty voting on the official election day to cast their ballots anywhere in the country, provided they bring an identification card. This year's early voting will take place over two days, from May 29 to 30, at designated polling places across the country.
Voters must present an ID that includes their date of birth and photo, such as a resident registration card, passport, or driver's license. Mobile IDs will not be accepted if they are saved as screenshots; voters must verify their IDs using the app on-site.
On the same day, Minister Yoon Ho-joong visited the Sajik-dong Community Center in Jongno, Seoul, to assess the readiness of the early voting site and observe a mock voting process simulating real conditions.
During the visit, he personally checked the route voters will take from entering the polling place to casting their votes, focusing on the installation of accessibility features such as elevators and ramps for individuals with mobility challenges. He also reviewed fire safety measures to prevent accidents such as electrical overloads and fires.
Additionally, he attended a mock voting session conducted under conditions identical to those of the actual early voting, verifying the operation of voting equipment, including ID checks and ballot issuance. He examined the voting booths and ballot boxes for any irregularities and conducted a thorough check for illegal camera installations.
Before inspecting the early voting sites, Minister Yoon visited the Jongno Police Station to discuss security measures and patrol enhancements to prevent illegal protests, disturbances, and arson on the day of early voting.
The National Police Agency and the Fire Agency have established safety measures for polling and counting locations that will remain in effect until the counting is fully completed. The police will operate a 24-hour integrated situation room to manage security at polling and counting sites and oversee the transportation of ballots. The Fire Agency is also focused on establishing a rapid fire response system and eliminating fire hazards at all early voting locations.
Minister Yoon stated, "We are strengthening security and patrols around early voting sites to ensure that citizens can vote with peace of mind, preparing for risks such as illegal protests, arson, and violence. Every citizen's participation in voting is the beginning of changing the future of their community, so I encourage those who may have difficulty voting on election day to participate in early voting with confidence."
* This article has been translated by AI.
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