ED Vote for Korea's future

National Election Commission staffers handle marked ballots at a polling station set up in Incheon International Airport, Saturday. Yonhap

The high turnout rate for the June 3 elections is good news for Korean politics. According to the National Election Commission, 23.51 percent of eligible voters cast their ballots during early voting held Friday and Saturday. The figure is the highest since early voting was introduced in 2014.

In a democracy, voting is the most effective and powerful way for people to make their voices heard in the policymaking process. Choosing the right candidates is the first step toward making democracy work.

Despite this positive development, early voting has once again revealed an East-West divide in Korean politics. People in the southwest, particularly in the Jeolla provinces, turned out in greater numbers to support their preferred candidates. South Jeolla Province recorded the nation’s highest early voting rate at 38.95 percent, followed by North Jeolla Province (35.05 percent) and Gwangju Metropolitan City (27.83 percent). In contrast, many voters in the southeastern region stayed away from the polls. The southeastern city of Daegu, a conservative stronghold, recorded the nation’s lowest early voting rate at 18.65 percent, nearly 5 percentage points below the national average. The turnout rate in Busan was 21.29 percent, also lower than the average.

This divide in early voting turnout mirrors the nation’s deeply polarized politics. Results from previous elections have consistently shown that voters in the southeastern region tend to support the conservative main opposition People Power Party (PPP), while those in the southwestern region overwhelmingly back the liberal ruling Democratic Party of Korea (DPK). It remains to be seen whether this decades-old voting pattern will remain intact in the upcoming elections.

The June 3 elections are critical for Korean politics. Voters will not only choose governors, mayors and local council members, but also elect 14 new members of the National Assembly in by-elections. Following the 2024 general elections, some lawmakers lost their seats after being found guilty of violating election laws. Other seats were left vacant when incumbent legislators resigned to run for local offices, including governorships and mayoral posts in major cities.

Depending on the outcome, the by-elections could reshape the nation’s political landscape. The DPK currently controls the National Assembly with 152 of its 300 seats, while the PPP holds 106 seats. The DPK has used its dominant position in the legislature to pass several controversial bills.

The election results will not alter the DPK’s majority status. However, if the PPP succeeds in winning additional seats, the conservative party will be strengthened and may seek a greater role in the legislative process.

For President Lee Jae Myung, the by-elections are widely viewed as a midterm test of his administration. Lee took office on June 4 last year, one day after winning a snap presidential election. This year's local elections coincide almost exactly with the first anniversary of his presidency. As a result, the by-election results will likely be interpreted as the public’s assessment of his first year in office.

The results could also intensify power struggles within the PPP. Han Dong-hoon, the party’s former chairman, is running in Busan’s Buk B electoral district. He is locked in a closely contested race with DPK candidate Ha Jung-woo, former senior presidential secretary for artificial intelligence and future planning. A recent SBS poll shows Han leading Ha, although the gap remains within the margin of error.

If Han, who is now running as an independent, wins the election, he is expected to seek reentry into the PPP. Approximately 20 PPP lawmakers are believed to sympathize with him and a victory would position the former prosecutor as a significant force in the conservative party’s race to select its next presidential candidate. The political importance of the Busan Buk B contest helps explain why its early voting turnout rate of 25.57 percent exceeded the national average.

The future of Korean politics is in the hands of voters. To make their voices heard, citizens should go to the polling stations and cast their ballots for candidates they believe can best represent them and their families. The relatively high turnout during the two-day early voting period is an encouraging sign, but those who did not participate in early voting should make every effort to vote on Election Day.

The nation’s future hinges on their choices. If you have the right to vote, exercise it. Make your voice heard.