Seoul
Turnout for the parliamentary elections in South Korea topped 10 million during the second and final day of early voting on Saturday.
According to the National Election Commission (NEC), 10,365,722 out of 44,280,011 eligible voters had cast their ballots as of 1 p.m. Saturday, for a turnout rate of 23.41 per cent, reported sources.
At the same point for the previous parliamentary elections in 2020, the turnout was 19.08 per cent.
On the first day of early voting, turnout exceeded 10 per cent in all 17 major cities and provinces nationwide, led by South Jeolla Province with 23.6 per cent. The turnout in Seoul was 15.83 per cent.
South Jeolla continued to lead the way Saturday with 32.96 per cent. The southeastern city of Daegu brought up the rear at 18.79 per cent.
The quadrennial race is considered crucial for the ruling People Power Party as failure to regain a majority could potentially render President Yoon Suk Yeol a lame duck for the remaining three years of his single five-year term.
The main opposition Democratic Party, which enjoyed a landslide victory in the previous elections, aims to retain its parliamentary majority.
According to a survey conducted 80 per cent of respondents expressed a definite intention to cast their votes.
