[6.3 Election] Voters Flock to Early Voting in Razor-Thin Damyang County Governor Race

Fierce Campaigns and Tense Atmosphere in the Battleground

"Voters Carefully Weigh Candidates and Policies Over Parties"

On the first day of early voting for the 9th nationwide local elections on May 29, early voting sites in Gwangju and Jeollanam-do saw a steady stream of voters exercising their precious right to vote from early morning throughout the day.

In particular, the race for Damyang County Governor in Jeollanam-do—emerging as the most fiercely contested battleground due to the razor-thin margin between Park Jongwon of the Democratic Party and Jeong Cheolwon of the Cho Kuk Innovation Party—was marked by a surge of supporters attempting to consolidate last-minute votes, reflecting the intense enthusiasm at the polls.

On the first day of early voting for the June 3 local elections, on the 29th, voters lined up long at the Damyang Town early voting station set up on the first floor of the Damyang Literature Hall in Damyang County, Jeonnam. Photo by Min Hyunki

Around noon, at the Damyang-eup early voting site set up on the first floor of Damyang Literature Hall, a continuous flow of office workers and local residents in their 20s to 50s arrived, trying to cast their votes before lunch. Reflecting the fierce competition between the Democratic Party and the Innovation Party candidates, the streets near the polling place were filled with campaign staff from both sides holding placards and banners with their candidates' names, bowing to passersby and vehicles and appealing for support, creating an atmosphere of palpable tension.

At one point, as local shopkeepers and office worker voters converged all at once, the queue for out-of-precinct voting stretched more than 10 meters past the skybridge at the building’s entrance. Mr. Jeong, a 34-year-old office worker waiting in line, remarked, “Early voting is convenient and the process is quick, so I used part of my lunch break to visit, but I was surprised to see so many people waiting. I hope that a genuine, hardworking candidate who truly cares about people’s livelihoods will be elected and bring stability to politics.”

Many citizens also expressed their longing for economic recovery through their votes amid the prolonged economic downturn. Choi Heonsu, a 53-year-old self-employed restaurant owner in Buk-gu, Gwangju, emphasized, “Because of persistent inflation and shrinking consumer spending, the hardships felt by small business owners like myself have reached their limit. Instead of flashy, one-off campaign pledges, I voted in hopes that an honest and competent candidate who will truly revitalize neighborhood businesses and strengthen the local economy’s fundamentals will be elected.”

Choi, an 82-year-old merchant who had just finished voting, said, “Rather than unconditionally supporting a single party, I chose candidates based on their conduct and the potential for local development.” Meanwhile, Ms. A, a 46-year-old civil servant returning to work after casting an out-of-precinct ballot, shared, “I considered the feasibility of campaign promises, the candidates’ integrity, and their administrative capabilities in making my choice for a competent leader.”

As of noon on May 29, voter turnout in Gwangju was 5.95%, with 70,751 out of a total of 1,189,519 eligible voters participating in early voting. This is 2.14 percentage points higher than the 3.81% early voting rate at the same time during the 8th local elections in 2022. The nationwide average was 4.86%.

Meanwhile, early voting for the 9th nationwide simultaneous local elections will be held at all early voting sites across the country for two days until May 30. Any voter wishing to participate can do so conveniently at any polling station from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m., regardless of their registered address, as long as they bring an ID with a photo issued by a government office or public institution, such as a resident registration card, passport, or driver’s license.

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