On the first day of early voting for the June 3 local elections, the early voting site at the Yeouido Community Center in Yeongdeungpo, Seoul, was bustling with voters during lunchtime. Many citizens voiced their concerns, calling for solutions to the housing crisis as they participated in the voting process.
Located in Yeouido, where many office workers are employed, the community center saw long lines forming outside the polling station by 11:30 a.m., reflecting the high interest in this local election.
Office workers arrived wearing their employee badges or dressed in business attire and work uniforms. Additionally, military personnel, visually impaired individuals, and seniors received assistance to cast their votes.
As noon approached, the line stretched approximately 150 meters from the entrance. Some voters, upon hearing that the wait would exceed 30 minutes, decided to leave and return after lunch.
The unusually hot weather prompted many to use umbrellas, hand fans, and portable fans to stay cool.
After voting, citizens uniformly expressed their desire for the next mayor of Seoul to address the housing issue. A man in his 60s, who voted for Jung Won-oh of the Democratic Party, stated, "The most important issue in this election is real estate," emphasizing the need for more opportunities for younger generations.
A woman in her 20s who supported Oh Se-hoon of the People Power Party echoed similar sentiments, saying, "I hope a living environment can be created for those in their 20s to live alone in Seoul. The burden of rent and housing prices is too high."
A man in his 40s who also voted for Oh remarked, "While we need to expand housing supply through reconstruction and redevelopment, it should be done in a balanced way to avoid price instability." He noted that the political discourse has been overshadowed by allegations and conflicts rather than policy competition.
Interestingly, despite earlier polls favoring Jung, there were signs of momentum for Oh among voters, who cited his experience as a four-term mayor as a reason for their support.
A woman in her 30s, identifying as undecided, said, "There aren't any standout candidates, but I chose Oh. It's important whether he can check the Blue House and the ruling party. I hope he works for the country."
Both the woman and the man who supported Oh highlighted his current position as mayor, believing he has a better understanding of city governance, and praised his extensive administrative experience.
By 12:30 p.m., the long lines that had extended outside the entrance had noticeably diminished. A polling station official reported that approximately 1,600 people had voted by that time, an increase of about 300 from 11:42 a.m.
According to the National Election Commission, the national average voter turnout by 3 p.m. was recorded at 8.15%, which is 0.9 percentage points higher than the early voting rate of 7.25% at the same time during the 2022 local elections.
Early voting will continue for two days, from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m., at 3,571 locations nationwide. Voters aged 18 and older must present a government-issued ID that includes their date of birth and photo, such as a resident registration card, passport, or driver's license. Mobile IDs are also accepted, but screenshots or image files are not valid.
Voters casting ballots at polling stations in their registered districts will receive a ballot, mark it, and place it directly into the ballot box. However, voters at polling stations outside their registered districts must receive both a ballot and a return envelope, mark the ballot, place it in the envelope, seal it, and then submit it into the ballot box. Detailed locations of early voting sites can be found on the election commission's website or by calling their hotline at 1390.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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