Seoul: Early voting for the presidential election commenced Thursday at 3,568 polling stations across the country as citizens prepare to choose a successor to former President Yoon Suk Yeol, who was removed from office following an unsuccessful attempt to impose martial law. The voting period is scheduled to last for two days, starting at 6 a.m. and concluding at 6 p.m. on Friday, as confirmed by the National Election Commission (NEC).
According to Yonhap News Agency, the voter turnout was recorded at 2.24 percent by 8 a.m. on the first day of early voting. This election features six candidates who are competing for the highest office in the nation. The most recent poll, published on Wednesday, indicates that Lee Jae-myung of the Democratic Party (DP) is leading with 49.2 percent of the projected votes. He is followed by Kim Moon-soo of the People Power Party, who has 36.8 percent support, while Lee Jun-seok from the minor New Reform Party holds third place with 10.3 percent.
The winner of the election will serve a single five-year term starting immediately after the election results are confirmed. DP candidate Lee Jae-myung plans to cast his vote on Thursday at 10 a.m. in Sinchon, located in western Seoul. Meanwhile, Kim Moon-soo intends to vote in Incheon's Gyeyang district during a scheduled campaign event.