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CEO & Publisher: Oh Young-jinDigital News Email: webmaster@koreatimes.co.krTel: 02-724-2114Online newspaper registration No: 서울,아52844Date of registration: 2020.02.05Masthead: The Korea TimesCopyright © koreatimes.co.kr. All rights reserved.

Voter turnout hits lowest since 2002

Next to empty polling booths, a voter fill in ballots at a polling station in Oksu-dong, Seongdong District, Seoul, Wednesday. YonhapBy Nam Hyun-wooThe total turnout for Wednesday's local elections was tentatively tallied at 50.9 percent, the lowest since the 2002 local elections, the election watchdog said.According to the National Election Commission, a total of 22.57 million out of 44.3 million eligible voters had casted their ballots as of 7:30 p.m., Wednesday. In the early voting period on Friday and Saturday, more than 9.13 million people voted to log a 20.62 percent turnout, which was 0.48 percentage points higher compared to four years earlier. The turnout for Wednesday's local elections was 9.3 percentage points lower compared to the previous 2018 local elections which saw 60.2 percent. The lowest turnout was recorded in 2002 when only 48.9 percent of eligible voters cast their ballots. By region, Gwangju showed the lowest turnout of 37.7 percent in this year's local elections, while South Jeolla Province had the highest of 58.5 percent. Pundits attributed the lower-than-ex

Jun 1, 2022By Nam Hyun-woo
Voter turnout hits lowest since 2002
  • PHOTOS Voting for new mayors, governors
  • Ruling party scores landslide victory in local elections
  • Ruling party PPP wins 10 of 17 key local election races: KBS-MBC-SBS exit poll
  • Landslide victory gives boost to President Yoon
  • Ruling party wins landslide in local elections

Slow pace seen at polling stations in Seoul reflects low voter turnout

A voter inserts ballots into a box at a polling station in Hongeun-dong, Seodaemun District, northwestern Seoul, Wednesday. Korea Times photo by Shim Hyun-chulBy Lee Hyo-jin The local elections on June 1 were marked by clear skies and warm weather, which apparently created a perfect environment for many people to bypass the polling stations and head outdoors for picnics instead. In fact, the weather may have been one of the culprits behind the low voter turnout.Voters began to trickle into a polling station in Hongeun-dong, Seodaemun District, northwestern Seoul, at around 10 a.m. But the pace did not pick up as the morning progressed, with only a few voters being seen. And those who showed up in the morning hours to exercise their right were mostly elderly voters.Among the total 270,219 eligible voters in the district, 59,095 ― or 21.75 percent ― already voted during the two-day early voting period which took place last weekend, according to the National Election Commission (NEC).“It was a little crowded early in the morning, but compared to the March 9 presidential election,

Jun 1, 2022By Lee Hyo-jin
Slow pace seen at polling stations in Seoul reflects low voter turnout
  • PHOTOS Voting for new mayors, governors
  • Uncontested winners: record-high 509 candidates win elections by default
  • Casting ballots in optical store: Korea's unusual polling stations

Ruling party PPP wins 10 of 17 key local election races: KBS-MBC-SBS exit poll

Members of the ruling People Power Party cheer after watching exit poll results for the 8th local elections at the National Assembly, Wednesday. Korea Times photo by Shim Hyun-chulThe ruling People Power Party (PPP) was projected to win 10 of the 17 metropolitan mayoral and gubernatorial posts, including Seoul mayor, in Wednesday's local elections, according to a joint exit poll by three major TV broadcasters.The main opposition Democratic Party (DP) was expected to grab four posts, including the governorships in the Jeolla provinces, according to the poll conducted by KBS, MBC and SBS.Three races, including the contest for Gyeonggi govenor, were too close to call. In a separate exit poll by broadcaster JTBC, the PPP was projected to win nine metropolitan mayoral and gubernatorial posts.Being contested in this year's local elections are 17 metropolitan mayoralties and provincial governorships, 226 lower-level administrative leadership positions, as well as 872 seats in provincial and metropolitan councils, and 2,988 in lower-level local councils.The elections came less than a month a

Jun 1, 2022
Ruling party PPP wins 10 of 17 key local election races: KBS-MBC-SBS exit poll
  • PHOTOS Voting for new mayors, governors
  • Voter turnout hits lowest since 2002

Ex-supporters explain why they 'walked away' from Democratic Party

A woman prepares to cast her vote for local elections to elect mayors, governors, council members and education superintendents at a polling station in Seoul, Wednesday. YonhapBy Jung Min-hoIt was a party they trusted only four years ago. When the Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) won 14 out of 17 metropolitan mayor and governor posts, in the biggest-ever local election victory by any party, some party leaders said that the landslide would be only the beginning of its long reign.But it wasn't.Barring an unprecedented polling error, the liberal DPK is expected to lose at least 10 of the key posts after the June 1 elections.Some people who voted for the party in previous elections told The Korea Times Tuesday that they have lost trust in it largely due to its incompetence and hypocrisy. “I will never vote for the DPK, not just this election but ever again,” said Cheong, 31, a Seoul travel company employee who had previously voted only for liberal parties, mostly the DPK. “Housing prices skyrocketed during the Moon Jae-in government. But the DPK, which has control over b

Jun 1, 2022By Jung Min-ho
Ex-supporters explain why they 'walked away' from Democratic Party
  • Ruling party scores landslide victory in local elections
  • DPK leaders offer to quit interim leadership committee en masse over election defeat

Long way to go for inclusive politics in Korea

Yagya Raj Subedi, a naturalized Korean from Nepal who ran for a Gyeonggi Province Assembly seat, speaks in a YouTube video uploaded on May 7. Screenshot from Democratic Party of Korea's Gyeonggi Province branch YouTube channelNaturalized Korean candidates face disadvantages amid prejudice, xenophobiaBy Lee Hae-rinAspiring politicians go through a complicated thought process before deciding to run for election. This is because, as someone succinctly put it, elections are an all-or-nothing game for candidates ― they get everything if they win. But the opposite also holds true; they lose everything when defeated. Elections require candidates to have sufficient financial support to cover their campaigns, enough physical strength to follow a cruelly busy schedule and the resolve to overcome challenges against all odds. For foreign-born candidates, there is one more hurdle they have to overcome in the run to the finish: ethnic nationalism. These candidates may face prejudice and xenophobia from some voters.Kim Man-ui, 47, a naturalized Korean who is originally from China, decided to run in

Jun 1, 2022By Lee Hae-rin
Long way to go for inclusive politics in Korea
  • Foreign-born voters feel invisible in local elections

Uncontested winners: record-high 509 candidates win elections by default

gettyimagesbankBy Kang Seung-wooWhile most candidates who ran in Wednesday's local elections labored to appeal to voters, 509 did not have to because they didn't have any opponents to compete with.According to the National Election Commission, 7,616 candidates registered for the local elections to compete for 4,125 seats that included 17 mayoral and gubernatorial seats as well as education superintendents and posts for numerous local councils, but a record 509 secured wins by running unopposed. Compared with four years ago, the figure amounts to an over-five-fold increase from 89. Taking a closer look, 107 candidates who ran for Seoul's district council, comprised of 373 members, were guaranteed to be elected without a vote, while the race for the Seoul Metropolitan Council also saw two uncontested winners ― for the first time in eight years. By party, all but one candidate for the Jeju education council belong to the two major parties, with 282 from the main opposition Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) and 226 from the ruling People Power Party (PPP). Candidates for education superin

Jun 1, 2022By Kang Seung-woo
Uncontested winners: record-high 509 candidates win elections by default
  • Koreans head to polls in local elections
  • Slow pace seen at polling stations in Seoul reflects low voter turnout

Independent candidates fear losing out as voters mark 7 paper ballots

Seven paper ballots for local elections are seen at an early voting station in Incheon International Airport, May 26. During the June 1 local elections, most voters have to vote on seven ballots, from metropolitan mayors to lower-level council members. YonhapBy Kwon Mee-yooVoters have gone to the polls once again to vote in local elections and National Assembly by-elections on Wednesday, about three months after the presidential election. Unlike the presidential election in which voters marked only one paper ballot to choose the country's leader, this time voters in most of the electoral districts were given seven ballots. Those who live in the eight constituencies where by-elections for Assembly seats were held concurrently had to mark eight ballot papers. A handful of colorful ballots could cause confusion as voters have to choose candidates for city councils as well as education superintendents. Voters being requested to mark seven or eight different ballot papers to select their favorite candidates could give some disadvantage to independent candidates and lower-level council hea

Jun 1, 2022By Kwon Mee-yoo
Independent candidates fear losing out as voters mark 7 paper ballots
  • Koreans head to polls in local elections

Koreans head to polls in local elections

People cast ballots at a polling station in Seoul, June 1, in the local elections to elect mayors, governors, council members and education superintendents nationwide. YonhapKoreans voted Wednesday to elect mayors, governors, local council members and regional education chiefs in nationwide local elections that could determine whether the newly inaugurated government of President Yoon Suk-yeol can powerfully push its agenda in its first year.Up for grabs in this year's local elections are 17 metropolitan mayoralties and provincial governorships, 226 lower-level administrative leadership positions, as well as 872 seats in provincial and metropolitan councils, and 2,988 in lower-level local councils.Also at stake are seven National Assembly seats, with by-elections taking place in districts in Daegu, Incheon, Seongnam, Wonju, Boryeong, Changwon and Jeju. Voting kicked off at 6:00 a.m. and is to run until 6:00 p.m. at 14,465 polling centers nationwide, according to the National Election Commission (NEC). COVID-19 patients and those in quarantine are allowed to vote between 6:30 p.m. and

Jun 1, 2022
Koreans head to polls in local elections
  • Independent candidates fear losing out as voters mark 7 paper ballots
  • PHOTOS Voting for new mayors, governors
  • Uncontested winners: record-high 509 candidates win elections by default

Yoon in search of 'better ways' to counter corruption in presidential office

President Yoon Suk-yeol speaks to reporters as he enters his office in Seoul, Monday. The presidential office said Tuesday that it is seeking to set up a better system to prevent and counter corruption involving people close to the president. Yonhap 'It is up to National Assembly to maintain special inspector system'By Jung Min-hoPresident Yoon Suk-yeol is searching for more effective ways to prevent and counter corruption involving people close to him, but it is up to the National Assembly whether to maintain the current special inspector system, an official said Tuesday.The post of special inspector was established in 2014 to keep the presidential office clean from corruption. Its role is to look into alleged irregularities by the president's family members, including the spouse and close relatives and presidential officials who are either equal to or above a senior presidential secretary in rank.“The presidential office is trying to create a better system to root out corruption, but it doesn't mean that the current system will be abolished, which (as it is the law) requires

Jun 1, 2022By Jung Min-ho
Yoon in search of 'better ways' to counter corruption in presidential office

'LGBTQ-friendly society is safer for everyone': candidates

Gay political candidate Oh Seung-jae campaigns at Dongbu Market in Seoul's northeastern district of Jungnang on May 22. Courtesy of Oh Seung-jaeSexual minority candidates join elections to make Korea more inclusiveBy Lee Hae-rinOh Seung-jae, 24, a gay man running for a Seoul City Council seat as a proportional representative for the minor progressive Justice Party, decided to become a politician after watching the televised debate during the 2017 presidential election. Oh said he wanted to give fellow sexual minorities a greater say in the policymaking process. “Former President Moon Jae-in and conservative politician Hong Joon-pyo were participating in the debate and publicly said that they 'opposed' homosexuality,” Oh told The Korea Times, Monday.He said that it was at that moment that he realized the world wouldn't change unless politicians change. And thus, he decided to become an agent of change on behalf of the LGBTQ community.Oh took action by protesting in front of the National Assembly the day after the televised debate and joined the Justice Party later that yea

Jun 1, 2022By Lee Hae-rin
'LGBTQ-friendly society is safer for everyone': candidates
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