Despite heat, voters queue for early ballots in South Korea elections

South Koreans braved the summer heat on Friday to cast their ballots during the first day of early voting for the June 3 local elections and parliamentary by-elections. Long queues formed at polling stations nationwide as citizens prioritized exercising their democratic right despite personal inconveniences.

In Seoul's Jung District, a line of office workers stretched from the So-gong-dong administrative center, many heading to vote before their morning commute. Similarly, at the Yeoksam 1-dong community center in Gangnam District, a diverse crowd, from suited professionals on lunch breaks to casually dressed residents, waited patiently. Some voters encouraged each other, remarking, "You worked hard. Let's get something cool for lunch."

By 4 p.m. on Friday, the national early voting turnout reached 9.25%. Out of 44,649,908 eligible voters, 4,129,131 had cast their ballots. This figure is a 1.03% increase compared to the same period during the 2022 local elections, which saw an 8.22% turnout by the same time.

Early voting continues on Saturday, June 1, from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. Voters are reminded to bring identification. Polling station locations can be found on the National Election Commission's website or through portal sites. Citizens can vote at any early polling station nationwide, regardless of their registered address.