SEOUL: The local by-elections held on Wednesday in South Korea, seen as a critical measure of public opinion following the April general elections, recorded a voter turnout of 24.62 percent, the National Election Commission (NEC) announced. The elections, which included significant administrative seats across the country, are considered pivotal in shaping the second half of President Yoon Suk Yeol’s term.
According to Yonhap News Agency, out of 8.6 million eligible voters, 2.1 million participated, casting their ballots across 2,404 polling centers nationwide. The elections were to fill five key local seats including the superintendent of the Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education and heads of several administrative regions such as Busan’s Geumjeong District and Incheon’s Ganghwa County. The reported figures also encompass results from a two-day early voting period last week that saw an 8.98 percent turnout.
Regionally, the voter turnout for the Seoul education chief’s position was noted at 23.48 percent. I
n contrast, the turnout for the other four local administrative positions was considerably higher at 53.9 percent. This turnout surpassed the figures from previous by-elections, indicating a heightened voter interest in these contests.
The elections are particularly significant as they test the influence of the ruling People Power Party (PPP) and the main opposition Democratic Party (DP), with their leaders considered likely next presidential candidates. The performance in these by-elections is crucial for both parties, especially in the wake of the PPP’s recent setbacks in the parliamentary elections held earlier in April.
In specific contests, the PPP aimed for victories in its traditional strongholds like Busan’s Geumjeong District and Incheon’s Ganghwa County, amidst efforts to recuperate from declining approval ratings. The race in Geumjeong was notably tight, with last-minute candidate consolidations adding to the electoral drama. Meanwhile, the DP appeared competitive, particularly in Gokseong County
, as it sought to capitalize on recent political dynamics.
Additionally, the election for Seoul’s education chief highlighted the political fallout from controversies surrounding the previous officeholder, Cho Hee-yeon, enhancing the stakes of the electoral outcome there. The race was expected to be closely fought between candidates representing progressive and conservative factions.