Oh arrived at an early voting site at the Hanam-dong community center in Yongsan-gu, Seoul, around 8 a.m. with his wife, Song Hyun-ok, a professor at Sejong University.
After voting, Oh told reporters, "Seoul stands at a crossroads: will it move toward the future or regress? Will democracy in South Korea advance or slide into dictatorship? This important election has now begun."
He added, "If the Lee Jae-myung government wins this election, we may see a return to unchecked power, including the cancellation of the special investigation into the prosecution. I hope voters will deeply consider how to encourage President Lee to lead the country with greater humility after this election."
Oh emphasized, "The Seoul city government has only just begun to recover from over a decade of darkness before my return. Now is a critical moment for a significant leap forward. I urge everyone to envision a bright future for Seoul through this election."
Han cast his vote at the administrative welfare center in Busan's Mandeok 2-dong and told reporters, "The election in Buk-gu is historically significant for revitalizing a district that has stagnated for 20 years and for rebuilding conservatism to stop the overreach of the Lee Jae-myung government. I voted with a sense of urgency and determination."
Regarding voter turnout, he stated, "Regardless of the circumstances, turnout must be high. That is democracy. South Korea has overcome crises and set its direction through citizens' votes. I urge everyone to participate in the election."
Lee Jun-seok, leader of the Reform Party, also voted in his district in Dongtan, Hwaseong, Gyeonggi Province. He remarked, "I believe that voting at a nearby polling place through early voting is a good system that shows public sentiment. I hope candidates from the Reform Party will have many opportunities to serve the community in this election."
He added, "The current atmosphere suggests that there is a strong sentiment against the failures and unilateralism of the Lee Jae-myung government. I hope this local election demonstrates that the public will not accept one-sidedness and arrogance. Voting is essential for political change, so I encourage everyone to exercise their voting rights, which are their greatest power."
* This article has been translated by AI.
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