Undeterred by worst COVID-19 wave, voters turn out to choose Korea's next president

An election worker holds a ballot for the 2022 presidential election at a polling station in Jongno District, Seoul, Wednesday. Korea Times photo by Shim Hyun-chul

By Lee Hyo-jin

Election Day has arrived in Korea amid the nation's worst COVID-19 wave yet, with the country reporting an all-time high of 342,446 daily new infections for Tuesday.

But the fear of infection did not stop Koreans from making their pick for who will lead the country for the next five years.

While general voting began across 14,464 polling stations nationwide from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. Wednesday, alternative arrangements were put in place for COVID-19 patients allocating them a voting period from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.

Dozens of residents showed up from the early morning to cast their ballots at a community center in Cheongunhyoja-dong, Jongno District in Seoul.

Among the total 129,968 eligible voters in the district, 52,826 ― or 40 percent ― already voted during the two-day early voting period conducted last Friday and Saturday, marking the highest early voting turnout among the 25 districts in the capital, according to the National Election Commission (NEC).

Thanks to the early voting trend, wait times were greatly reduced for Jongno residents on Wednesday.

Mask-wearing voters had their temperatures checked at the entrance, disinfected their hands, after which they were provided with plastic gloves. Next they stood quietly in line at designated marked places to receive a ballot and then each headed into a booth.

A mother holding a baby fills out a ballot in a booth at a polling station in Jongno District, Seoul, Wednesday. Korea Times photo by Shim Hyun-chul

Shin Yoo-jin, 25, a college student who visited the polling station at around 8 a.m., said, "I'm quite excited since this is my second time voting in the presidential election. I hope the new president introduces better youth-related policies than the current one, and focuses more on solving housing problems and unemployment."

As she left the voting station, Shin took a selfie to share on social media to encourage her friends to vote. Taking photos outside polling booths has been allowed since the 2017 presidential election.

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An official of the Jongno District Office in charge of the voting process was seen urging poll workers to remain vigilant until the end of the day, especially during the voting period designated for COVID-19 patients. He ordered them to double-check the necessary protective equipment and give proper guidance to the voters.

Early voting for COVID-19 patients and those in quarantine on Saturday stirred a nationwide controversy, due to the authorities' ill-preparedness and clumsy handling of the ballots. Some of the patients saw their ballots being collected in paper bags, parcel boxes, or official trash bags, instead of official ballot boxes.

"We have prepared official ballot boxes for COVID-19 patients, and will mobilize more personnel during the voting period for patients. We will do our best to ensure a fair and safe election," an NEC official told The Korea Times, requesting anonymity.

Voters leaving the polling site projected victory for the candidate they cast their ballot for.

Kang Seon-wook, 53, a self-employed individual, said he voted for Yoon Suk-yeol, the candidate of the conservative People Power Party.

"I'm sure Yoon will win. I highly value his honesty. I believe he is the suitable leader for the country in the pandemic crisis. Not only will he offer better support to small business owners struggling due to the pandemic, but his government will be able to stabilize the economy in the long term," he said.

Kang also expressed anger over the NEC's mishandling of ballots in early voting.

"The government should immediately launch a thorough investigation for possible election fraud, and those found responsible should be held accountable," he said.

A voter in her 80s surnamed Jeon said that she has never failed to exercise her right to vote since the country's first democratic presidential election held in 1987.

"I picked Lee Jae-myung today, not because I support him, but more because I support the ruling Democratic Party of Korea. I hope Lee will succeed President Moon Jae-in and do his best to make the country a better place both for the young and old generations," she said.

A voter inserts a ballot for the 2022 presidential election into a ballot box at a polling station in Jongno District, Seoul, Wednesday. Korea Times photo by Shim Hyun-chul

Jeon added, "And plus, I don't want Yoon ― who has continued to insult and attack the other candidates ― to become the next president."

Some voters faced a tough choice due to the dramatic merger between People Party's candidate Ahn Cheol-soo and Yoon, which came just six days ahead of the election.

"I was planning to vote for Ahn, but after he dropped out, I couldn't make up my mind, even as I entered the polling booth. And I'm still not sure whether I made the right choice," said a man in his 40s who wished to stay anonymous.