Yi Whan-woo is a Korea Times journalist primarily covering finance. He writes in-depth articles on macroeconomy and financial markets and previously covered sports, politics, diplomacy and inter-Korean affairs, among others. Feel free to contact him at yistory@koreatimes.co.kr.
Early voting for April 29 elections begin
A voter casts a ballot for the April 29 National Assembly by-elections at a community center in Nangokdong, a part of Gwanak-B constituency in Seoul, Friday. The National Election Commission will run the two-day early voting through Saturday. / Yonhap
By Yi Whan-woo
By Yi Whan-woo
The two-day early voting for the April 29 parliamentary by-elections began Friday.
The voters at the four election constituencies — Gwanak-B in Seoul, Jungwon in Seongnam, Gyeonggi Province, Seogu and Ganghwa-B in Incheon and Seogu-B in Gwangju — can cast their ballots at polling stations in their respective districts from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. through Saturday.
There are 10 polling stations in Gwanak-B, 11 in Jungwon, 18 in Seogu and Ganghwa-B and seven in Seogu-B, according to the National Election Commission.
A total of 712,696 eligible voters who are aged 20 or older can vote at this time if they are not able to cast their ballot on April 29.
For identification purposes, they are required to take their identification card, passport or driver’s license to the polls.
The voting rate on Friday stood at 2.4 percent across the four districts.
By region, the rate was 3.06 percent in Seogu-B, 2.71 percent in Seogu and Ganghwa-B, 2.48 percent in Jungwon and 2.39 percent in Gwanak-B.
The rival parties are urging voters to cast their ballots amid speculation that the overall turnout will depend on the early voting rate.
The National Assembly elections will take place in the wake of a graft scandal that is expected to damage the ruling Saenuri Party.
The scandal centers on the alleged bribery list left by now-deceased entrepreneur, Sung Woan-jong, when he was found dead on April 9 at Mount Bukhan after committing suicide.
Five former and incumbent Saenuri party lawmakers are among the eight political heavyweights who are suspected of taking illegal political funds from Sung, the Kyeongnam Enterprises chairman, between 2007 and 2012.
They are Rep. Hong Moon-jong, Prime Minister Lee Wan-koo, Incheon Mayor Yoo Jeong-bok, Busan Mayor Suh Byung-soo and South Gyeongsang Provincial Governor Hong Joon-pyo.
The three others are Presidential Chief of Staff Lee Byung-kee and his two predecessors, Huh Tae-yeol and Kim Ki-choon.
The Saenuri Party is concerned it may lose in all constituencies.
Meanwhile, the main opposition New Politics Alliance for Democracy (NPAD) is trying to capitalize on the scandal, claiming the voters will be on its side to “punish the ruling party and the government.”
Gwanak-B is seen as the most heavily contested area, after Chung Dong-young, an independent, declared his bid for a parliamentary seat on March 30.
Chung, also a 2007 presidential candidate, quit as the NPAD’s senior advisor in January and has been working on setting up his own party, tentatively called the “People’s Union.”
Chung is competing against the Saenuri Party’s Oh Sin-hwan and the NPAD’s Jung Tae-ho and five others, including two independents
Saenuri Party Chairman Kim Moo-sung visited Gwanak-B, Friday, wooing voters to cast ballots for Oh.
In Seogu and Ganghwa-B, former Incheon Mayor Ahn Sang-soo is running as the Saenuri candidate against the NPAD’s Shin Dong-geun and minor Justice Party’s Park Jong-hyun.
Former Justice Minister Chun Jung-bae is competing as an independent in Seogu-B, a NPAD stronghold. Chun withdrew from the NPAD on March 10 despite criticism from within the party.
In Jungwon, Shin Sang-jin, a former two-term lawmaker, is bidding for a third parliamentary term as a Saenuri candidate.