Early Voting Rates Surge in Battlegrounds...Jongno Hits 34.6%, Highest in Seoul Metropolitan Area (Update)

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Jung-yoon] The early voting rate in nationwide battleground districts surged during the two-day early voting period for the 21st general election held on the 10th and 11th.

According to the National Election Commission, the early voting rate in Jongno-gu, Seoul, where Lee Nak-yeon, co-chairman of the Democratic Party of Korea's joint election countermeasures committee, faced off against Hwang Kyo-ahn, leader of the United Future Party, was recorded at 34.56%, the highest in the metropolitan area.

This is 7.87 percentage points higher than the national early voting rate of 26.69% and about twice as high as the early voting rate in Jongno-gu during the 20th general election.

Additionally, high early voting rates were observed in Dongjak-eul, where Democratic Party candidate Lee Su-jin competed against United Future Party candidate Na Kyung-won, and in Gwangjin-eul, where Democratic Party candidate Go Min-jung faced United Future Party candidate Oh Se-hoon.

The early voting rate in Dongjak-gu, including Dongjak-gap and Dongjak-eul, was 29.51%, while Gwangjin-gu, combining Gwangjin-gap and Gwangjin-eul, showed an early voting rate of 27.87%.

In Incheon, the early voting rate was high in Jung-gu, Ganghwa, and Ongjin, where Democratic Party candidate Jo Taek-sang and United Future Party candidate Bae Jun-young competed. Although Jung-gu's early voting rate remained low at 25.49%, Ganghwa County recorded 31.46% and Ongjin County 36.59%.

In the metropolitan area, Yangcheon-gu (28.17%), Seocho-gu (28.08%), Songpa-gu (27.79%) in Seoul, Gwacheon-si (33.95%), Yangpyeong-gun (30.43%), Dongan-gu in Anyang-si (29.3%), and Bundang-gu in Seongnam-si (28.19%) all recorded early voting rates higher than the overall rate.

In the Chungcheong region, the early voting rate in Gongju, Buyeo, and Cheongyang in Chungnam, where Democratic Party candidate Park Soo-hyun and United Future Party candidate Jeong Jin-seok are in a close race, exceeded 30%. Gongju City recorded 30.92%, Buyeo County 31.69%, and Cheongyang County 34.06%.

In Chungbuk's Boeun, Okcheon, Yeongdong, and Goesan, where Democratic Party candidate Kwak Sang-eon and United Future Party candidate Park Deok-heum are competing, Boeun County (36.48%), Okcheon County (32.23%), Yeongdong County (35.58%), and Goesan County (34.99%) all showed high early voting rates.

In the Honam region, where early voting rates were higher than elsewhere, the early voting rate soared in the Jeonbuk Namwon, Imsil, and Sunchang electoral district, where Democratic Party candidate Lee Kang-rae and independent candidate Lee Yong-ho are in a tight race. Namwon City recorded the highest rate among all basic local governments nationwide at 47.31%, with Imsil County and Sunchang County showing 42.35% and 45.73%, respectively.

Jeonnam Mokpo City (38.49%), where Democratic Party candidate Kim Won-i, Min Saeng Party candidate Park Ji-won, and Justice Party candidate Yoon So-ha are running; Jeonnam Suncheon City (34.97%), where Democratic Party candidate So Byung-chul and independent candidate Noh Kwan-gyu are competing; and Jeonbuk Gunsan City (33.97%), where Democratic Party candidate Shin Young-dae and independent candidate Kim Kwan-young are facing off, all exceeded the overall early voting rate.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.