Seoul: Voter turnout for South Korea's presidential election has surpassed the 70 percent mark, 10 hours after voting began earlier Tuesday, the election watchdog said. Of the total 44.39 million eligible voters nationwide, 31.73 million, or 71.5 percent, had cast their ballots as of 4 p.m., according to the National Election Commission (NEC). Voting began at 6 a.m. at 14,295 polling stations across the country and will run through 8 p.m.
According to Yonhap News Agency, the provisional tally includes the votes cast in early voting, as well as overseas, shipboard and absentee ballots. The turnout was the highest recorded at the said time of the day in any presidential election. More than 15.42 million, or 34.74 percent of the registered voters, had cast their ballots in the early voting held on Thursday and Friday.