Seoul: An unprecedented 19.58 percent of South Korean voters participated in early voting on the first day, setting a new record as the country prepares for a crucial presidential election to choose the successor to former President Yoon Suk Yeol, who was removed from office over a failed martial law attempt. The early voting phase commenced at 3,568 polling stations nationwide, with the official election scheduled for the upcoming Tuesday.
According to Yonhap News Agency, more than 8.69 million of the 44,391,871 registered voters turned out to vote between 6 a.m. and 6 p.m. on Thursday. This marked the highest first-day turnout since the introduction of nationwide early voting in 2014, surpassing the previous presidential election's first-day turnout of 17.57 percent in 2022 by 2.01 percentage points.
Key political figures, including Democratic Party (DP) candidate Lee Jae-myung and People Power Party (PPP) candidate Kim Moon-soo, participated in early voting, casting their ballots in Seoul and Incheon, respectively. Other candidates, such as Lee Jun-seok of the New Reform Party and Kwon Young-kook of the Democratic Labor Party, also voted on the first day, highlighting the significance of the election.
Lee Jae-myung emphasized the importance of voter participation in overcoming past political challenges, stating, "The insurrection can only be truly overcome through the active participation of our citizens in the election." Lee continued his campaign throughout key districts in Seoul, an area considered crucial due to its dense population.
In Incheon, Kim Moon-soo voted alongside his daughter, urging citizens to vote to preserve the nation's freedom, and strategically campaigned in his rival's constituency to sway voters. Kim also paid homage to historical figures, like Gen. Douglas MacArthur, to inspire patriotism among voters.
Other candidates, like Lee Jun-seok, focused on appealing to the youth and university students, while Kwon Young-kook voted in Yeosu, emphasizing regional representation in the election.
The race for the presidency remains competitive, with six candidates vying for the position. Recent polls indicate Lee Jae-myung leads with 49.2 percent support, followed by Kim Moon-soo at 36.8 percent, and Lee Jun-seok at 10.3 percent. The forthcoming election will determine the next president, who will serve a five-year term starting immediately after the election concludes.