By Yun Suh-young
The early voting from May 4 to 5 hit a record high number of voters ahead of the election as the turnout surpassed 26 percent of all voters. Against this backdrop, culture, tourism and retail industries are announcing discount events and special price offers for those who are ready to piggyback on the election fervor.
For people who have taken selfies after voting, either by taking photos of the stamp on their hands or of themselves in front of the polling venue, some hot deals await.
Lotte Cinema is offering a combo set called "Gaenyum Combo" until May 14 for those who show certification of their voting. The combo includes large-sized popcorn and two carbonated drinks for 5,000 won. The combo was highly popular during the general election last year and 4,000 people took advantage of the event. Some coffee franchises, such as Coffee Bay, are offering a discount of 500 won per cup to those who have a photo of the voting stamp on their hands.
Retail stores, such as Lotte Mart and E-Mart, are offering discounts on certain food items until the week after the election. Lotte Mart is offering a 50 percent discount on major food items, mostly on snacks, as they would mostly be consumed by customers on the presidential Election Day while watching the results at night. Imported beers such as Kronenbourg 1664 Blanc and Santori Premium Malts are also being discounted with a pack of four 500 ml canned beers offered at 9,400 won. Smoked barbecue chicken is offered at 6,800 won. The discount is offered until May 17. There are also items that are only being discounted on the Election Day and the following day, such as dried filefish fillet or steamed octopus slices.
E-mart is offering an unlimited snack event until May 10 for snacks produced by Lotte. Anyone, who can fill up the red boxes offered at the store with snacks and pile up as much as they can, will be able to purchase everything inside the box at a set price of 17,800 won.
Hotels are offering discounts as well. The most noticeable one is that of Hotel 109 in Busan. The hotel offers free nights at the hotel based on a first-come, first-served basis of those who send their ballot selfies to the hotel on Election Day. The event will start at 10:09 a.m. and the prizes will go to the first 51 people who participate. Photos should be sent to the hotel's main phone number. The hotel conducted a similar event when President Park Geun-hye was impeached. At the time, the hotel said it would hold this event on Election Day and it decided to keep its promise. The hotel said it will hold the event again to send a message to politicians that they should keep their promises as the hotel did.
Voters should be cautious, however, when taking selfies at the polling venues because there are strict regulations. Taking photos inside the voting booths is prohibited and is subject to a 4 million won fine or up to two years in prison. All photographs should be taken outside of the voting booths. Starting this year, sharing photos of fingers to indicate who they voted for is allowed, due to a revised election law passed in February.