On the eve of the June 3 presidential election, polling stations are being set up across the country. According to Article 147 of the Public Official Election Act (Installation of Polling Stations), polling stations are installed in schools, government offices, public institutions and organizations' offices, community centers, or other places convenient for voters within the voting district.

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However, if a public venue cannot be secured, local governments, the National Election Commission, and private entities may work together to set up polling stations in general buildings. These locations must be easily accessible for the elderly, those with limited mobility, and other voters, and must not be affected by weather conditions such as rain. This year as well, a variety of venues such as private sports facilities, wedding halls, and food and beverage establishments have been designated as polling stations. Most of these places are easily accessible and offer ample space.

Yonhap News Agency

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On June 2, Yonhap News Agency introduced some of the unique polling stations set up across the country ahead of the June 3 presidential election. The most notable is a 'wrestling gym' polling station (Namcheon 2-dong 3rd polling station) located in Suyeong District, Busan. Originally a kendo gym, the new owner converted it into a wrestling gym. There are also polling stations set up in cafes or restaurants. In Gangdong-gu, Seoul, a cafe called 'Seungryongine Ludia' has been designated as the Seongnae 2-dong 3rd polling station. In this case, the building is owned by the Gangdong District Office. The Bukgajwa 2-dong 5th polling station in Seodaemun-gu was set up in a franchise pizza restaurant called 'Goraehanippizza'.

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Other popular venues include campgrounds (such as the Gurim-myeon 2nd polling station in Sunchang County, Jeollabuk-do), wedding halls (such as the Sangdae-dong 1st polling station in Nam-gu, Pohang, Gyeongsangbuk-do), and taekwondo gyms (such as the Wadong 8th polling station in Danwon-gu, Ansan).

These private venues can receive a nominal honorarium or a rental fee of several hundred thousand won from the National Election Commission. A wedding hall that has served as a polling station for more than 20 years explained, "The parking space is large and it is convenient for residents to visit, so we have served as a polling station for a long time. Since there are no events on election day, we offer the venue free of charge for residents." In the previous 22nd National Assembly election, polling stations were also set up in banks, indoor baseball training facilities, and opticians.

Meanwhile, the main voting for the 21st presidential election will be held on June 3 from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. at 14,295 polling stations nationwide. Unlike early voting, voters must cast their ballots at their designated polling station. The location can be checked via the voting guide sent to each household or on the National Election Commission website.