Rival parties tangle over record voter turnout
Voters maintain distance from each other as they line up for early voting at a polling station in Hanam, Gyeonggi Province, Saturday, ahead of the general election, to be held Wednesday. Yonhap
By Yi Whan-woo
The rival parties were encouraged by the record turnout in early voting for the general election this week, with each arguing the outcome will be in their favor.
The surprise turnout came amid prospects that the COVID-19 pandemic would have people staying at home instead of voting.
Against this backdrop, the parties ramped up campaigning over the weekend in Seoul, Incheon and Gyeonggi Province ― collectively the country's most-contested region where more than half of the 43.9 million registered voters live.
The three areas also presumably have the highest number of swing voters for the general election, Wednesday.
“This highest-ever voter turnout shows the burning passion of the people to overcome the COVID-19 pandemic crisis with the government and the ruling party and to make the Republic of Korea greater,” said Hyun Geun-Taek, election camp spokesman of the ruling Democratic Party of Korea (DPK).
His remark came after the 11.7 million voters cast ballots from Friday to Saturday during the early voting at 3,508 polling stations across the country.
The turnout was 26.69 percent, the highest since early voting was introduced in 2014 for a nationwide election. The previous record was 26.06 percent in the May 2017 presidential election.
“We ask the people to join forces and help the government get over the hardship and deal with state affairs in a stable and propulsive manner. In that regard, we ask each of the remaining voters to cast their precious ballot on election day.” Hyun said.
The main opposition United Future Party (UFP) saw the highest voter turnout “reflects anger of the public who are ready to punish the Moon Jae-in administration for bungled state affairs.”
“I'd say the voter turnout came as patriotic citizens wanted to correct blunders of the Moon government through this election,” UFP Chairman Hwang Kyo-ahn said. “I want likeminded citizens to show up for the regular election and help steer this country in the right direction.”
UFP election camp spokeswoman Lim Yoon-sun said voter turnout is seen as the public sentiment to “punish the ruling party's arrogance.”
She referred to Friday's speculation by Rhyu Si-min, a liberal-minded political commentator, that the DPK and other progressive parties combined have a “good chance to win” 180 of the 300 National Assembly seats.
“Such speculation is a mere bluff and the voter turnout shows our people want to punish the DPK for being haughty,” Lim said.
The DPK election camp's co-chief Lee Nak-yon drew a line that the DPK-led liberal bloc winning more than half of the National Assembly seats is “simply not our idea.”
“We, the DPK, must remain humble until the last minute,” Lee said, while thanking the voters who participated in the early voting. “Analysis of the reasons behind the high voter turnout is up to political commentators and media. But even so, they should be careful and not brag as if they know the thoughts of the people.”
Lee, running against Hwang in Seoul's Jongno constituency, joined the other party candidates' campaign in Incheon, Sunday.
DPK floor leader Lee In-young, after participating in campaigns of the party candidates in Incheon, Saturday, joined the campaign trail for Lee Soo-jin, a former judge who competes in Seoul's Dongjak-B constituency, Sunday.
Dongjak-B is considered one of the most-contested districts in Seoul, with Na Kyung-won of the UFP seeking her fifth National Assembly term.
On Sunday, UFP election camp chief Kim Chong-in visited constituencies in Suwon, Pyeongtaek and Yongin ― all in Gyeonggi Province ― before going to the ones in northern Seoul. He wrapped up his support for the candidates, Sunday, by joining Hwang's campaign in Jongno.