According to the National Election Commission (NEC), voter turnout stood at 7.02 percent as of 2 p.m. on the first day of early voting, up 0.96 percentage points from 6.06 percent recorded during the 2022 local elections.
Of the country's 44.64 million eligible voters, about 3.13 million had already voted by Friday afternoon.
South Jeolla Province recorded the highest turnout at 14.5 percent, followed by North Jeolla Province at 12.22 percent, Gangwon Province at 9.03 percent, Gwangju at 8.63 percent and Jeju Island at 7.62 percent. Turnout in Seoul stood at 6.58 percent, while Busan recorded 6.4 percent.
Early voting runs for two days at some 3,571 polling stations nationwide from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. through Saturday for those unable to vote on election day next week to cast their ballots early.
In an apparent effort to avoid political symbolism and election neutrality, Lee wore a gray tie rather than blue, which is associated with the ruling Democratic Party (DP), or red, which represents the main opposition People Power Party (PPP).
Former President Moon Jae-in and his wife Kim Jung-sook also cast their votes in the southeastern city of Yangsan, where they reside after his retirement from office.
Prime Minister Kim Min-seok cast his ballot at a polling station in Yeouido near the National Assembly, while Chief Justice Cho Hee-dae did so in Seocho, southern Seoul.
Samsung Electronics chairman Lee Jae-yong was also spotted casting his ballot in Seoul's posh district of Yongsan.
"We will do our best to ensure the election runs smoothly and in an orderly manner so that voters do not face any inconvenience at polling stations," a National Election Commission official told AJP.
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