Early voters weigh competence, daily concerns as local election voting begins

A voter casts a ballot at an early voting station set up in Sejong, Friday, the first day of early voting for the ninth nationwide local elections. Yonhap

Long lines formed at early voting stations in Seoul's business districts Friday as office workers stopped by polling places near their workplaces, offering an early glimpse into the issues shaping voter sentiment ahead of next week's local elections.

Early voting for the June 3 local elections and parliamentary by-elections began Friday at 3,571 polling stations nationwide.

Nationwide early voting turnout reached 11.6 percent on Friday, about 1.42 percentage point higher than at the same point during the 2022 local elections.

Voters lined up from morning at an early voting station in Sogong-dong, central Seoul, as people turned out to cast their ballots on the first day of early voting.

At around 10:30 a.m., long lines formed at the early voting station. The line for out-of-district voters was noticeably longer than that for local residents.

Located on the fifth floor of the building, the polling station drew a steady stream of voters, with elevators arriving packed with people. Voters waited in line for elevators both on their way to the polling station and after casting their ballots.

The polling station drew a diverse mix of voters, including office workers wearing company ID badges, people in athletic wear and groups of colleagues who stopped by to cast their ballots during their workday.

While voters cited a range of reasons for turning out early, many said they cast their ballots based on candidates’ policy pledges, focusing on whether those promises would bring tangible improvements to their daily lives.

Office workers line up to cast their ballots during their lunch break at an early voting station inside the Sogong-dong Administrative Complex in Jung District, Seoul, Friday. Yonhap

“Childcare, welfare and redevelopment were the issues I focused on when deciding how to vote,” said Kim Nam-soo, a 43-year-old office worker. “As the parent of a 30-month-old child, child care policies were especially important to me.”

While voters highlighted different priorities, many shared a common view that a candidate's administrative experience and public service record mattered as much as, if not more than, campaign promises.

“Since my registered address is still in South Gyeongsang Province, I decided to vote early,” said Lee Won-ju, a 26-year-old office worker in Jung District. “Beyond the candidates’ campaign pledges, I paid close attention to their track records in public administration and the experience they have built in government and leadership positions.”

Jeon Yoon-soo, an office worker in her 30s, said she placed greater weight on candidates' ability to get things done than on campaign pledges alone.

“Policy pledges are important, but I looked closely at whether the candidates had actual experience in public administration before casting my vote,” Jeon said.

Some voters were motivated by specific policy issues when deciding whom to support.

“I mainly voted for female candidates advocating gender equality,” said Lee Seul-gi, a freelance worker. “Women's representation in local politics is important, and I believe tackling structural gender discrimination remains one of the most pressing challenges facing society.”

President Lee Jae Myung and first lady Kim Hea Kyung cast their ballots at an early voting station in Samcheong-dong, Jongno District, Seoul, Friday. Joint Press Corps

Major political figures also participated in early voting on Friday, including President Lee Jae Myung, former President Moon Jae-in and the two leading candidates in the Seoul mayoral race.

Lee and first lady Kim Hea Kyung cast their ballots at an early voting station in Jongno District, central Seoul, at around noon on Friday.

Moon and his wife also participated in early voting, casting their ballots at an early voting station set up in Yangsan, South Gyeongsang Province.

Both Seoul mayoral candidates appeared at polling stations early Friday morning to cast their ballots.

Chong Won-o, the Democratic Party of Korea's (DPK) candidate for Seoul mayor, voted at an early voting station in Jung District at around 8:20 a.m. After casting his ballot, Chong called on voters to participate in early voting and elect a new mayor who will make safety the city's top priority.

Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon, the main opposition People Power Party (PPP) candidate seeking reelection, also cast his ballot at a polling station in Yongsan District on Friday morning.

Oh urged voters to support the city's next phase of growth, saying Seoul had only recently recovered from what he described as a decade of stagnation before his return to office.

Jung Cheong-rae, leader of the DPK, also participated in early voting and encouraged voters to cast their ballots. In contrast, PPP leader Jang Dong-hyuk is reportedly planning to vote on Election Day.

Early voting continues through Saturday, with voters able to cast their ballots at any polling station nationwide, regardless of where they are registered to vote. Polls are open daily from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m.