Seoul: In downtown Seoul last week, long lines formed as people waited to cast their ballots during early voting on Thursday and Friday. Salaried workers, students, and other urban residents made time to stop by nearby polling stations and exercise their right to choose the nation's next leader.
According to Yonhap News Agency, early voting turnout reached 34.74 percent. Although this figure is 2.19 percentage points lower than the turnout for the 2022 presidential election, it still marks the second-highest early voting rate since the system was introduced in 2013. More voters are expected to cast their ballots before polls close Tuesday night.
The early turnout offers encouraging signs for the country's future. Rather than succumbing to voter apathy, citizens showed up to make their voices heard. This is significant, considering voter frustration has peaked in this election for several reasons. Most notably, the president elected three years ago declared martial law, which cut his tenure short. His drastic and ultimately self-destructive decision imposed heavy political and economic costs on the country and triggered an early election - two years ahead of schedule. Though the exact figure is unknown, an astronomical amount of taxpayer money has been spent as a result.
Additionally, voters felt they were left with few appealing choices. Candidates from the two major parties - the Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) and the People Power Party (PPP) - were both viewed as flawed, albeit for different reasons. DPK candidate Lee Jae-myung is entangled in legal issues, after the Supreme Court overturned his acquittal in one of five ongoing criminal cases. His legal troubles have sparked debate among experts about whether, if elected, he could or should stand trial while in office.
His opponent, Kim Moon-soo of the PPP, is associated with ousted former President Yoon Suk Yeol. Lee has accused Kim of having been part of an insurrection, urging voters to reject those who collaborated with Yoon. Kim has denied the allegations, pointing out that the court is still determining whether Yoon's martial law declaration constitutes insurrection.
Meanwhile, Lee Jun-seok of the minor Reform Party energized many younger voters with his fresh vision and youthful appeal. However, his popularity was not broad enough to elevate him as a viable contender across generations. Many people have expressed frustration, saying there are no candidates worth voting for. That sentiment is understandable. However, there's an important point they may be overlooking: elections have always been like this. They are rarely a choice between good and bad, but rather between the lesser of two evils.
Elections are not about selecting a perfect person - because perfection does not exist. In reality, they are about relative competitiveness. Voters must weigh the flaws of each candidate and choose the one whose shortcomings are most tolerable from their perspective. This frustrating reality should not be used as an excuse to abstain from voting. Change cannot happen if people give up their right to elect leaders.
Tuesday's presidential election is a direct result of Korea's turbulent modern history. Two sitting presidents were forced out of office years before completing their terms, prompting unscheduled elections. Even more concerning is that this has happened twice within a single decade. The June 3 election must mark the end of this unfortunate cycle. It is more than just another vote - it is a turning point for the nation's future. Korea's political and economic stability hinges on the outcome.
To ensure this, the National Election Commission (NEC) must manage the election with utmost competence and transparency. However, some irregularities in early voting raised serious concerns about the NEC's ability to safeguard election integrity. In Yongin, Gyeonggi Province, a voter received a ballot that was already marked. In Gimpo, a ballot from last year's National Assembly elections was discovered at a polling station during a routine check. In Seoul's Gangnam District, an election officer who was also a voter was arrested for casting two ballots - one for herself and one fraudulently on behalf of her husband. She used her position to bypass ID verification and issue an extra ballot. In another case, a male voter originally from China, now a naturalized Korean citizen, was arrested after posting a photo of his marked ballot on Chinese social media. A female voter also uploaded a video showing her vote for DPK candidate Lee Jae-myung on the same platform.
These incidents are deeply troubling and represent a serious threat to election fairness. Such violations must not be allowed to happen again on Election Day.