Lee Casts Early Ballot on First Day of Voting: "Is It Okay If Only Half the Circle Is Marked?" (Comprehensive)

President and First Lady Lee Vote in Samcheong-dong Near the Blue House
Exercises Voting Rights for 'Gyeyang-eul, Incheon,' Their Registered Address
Steps Out During Voting, Asks, "Won't This Be Considered Invalid?"
Also Holds Conversation

President Lee Jae-myung cast his ballot in Samcheong-dong, Seoul, on the first day of early voting for the June 3 local elections on May 29, 2026.

On this day, President Lee, accompanied by First Lady Kim Hye-kyung, participated in the early voting for the 9th nationwide local elections at the Samcheong-dong Community Center in Jongno-gu, Seoul, near the presidential office. President Lee wore a gray tie, apparently selecting a color unrelated to any political party to ensure election fairness.

President Lee Jae-myung is seen leaving the voting booth after casting his early vote at the polling station set up at Samcheong-dong Community Center in Jongno-gu, Seoul, on the first day of the 9th nationwide local elections early voting, May 29, 2026. Photo by Yonhap News

According to the presidential office, President Lee participated in voting as a resident of Gyeyang-eul, Incheon, his current registered address, and was guided to vote as an "out-of-district voter." In Gyeyang-eul, Incheon, a by-election is concurrently being held to elect a National Assembly member to fill the seat vacated due to President Lee's presidential candidacy.

Accordingly, President Lee cast ballots in a total of eight elections: governor or city/province head, superintendent of education, head of district/city/county, city/provincial council member (district), district/city/county council member (district), city/provincial council member (proportional representation), district/city/county council member (proportional representation), and National Assembly member (district).

After verifying his identity, President Lee entered the voting booth with his ballot papers. However, he stepped out midway and asked, "Where is the election official? Is it acceptable if the circle mark is incomplete or only half stamped?"

Pointing to his own ballot paper, President Lee continued, "Is it okay that it is stamped like this? Won't this be invalid? It's only half-stamped." When the election commission staff replied that it would not be considered an invalid vote, President Lee returned to the booth and completed voting.

President Lee Jae-myung is listening to opinions from representatives of disability organizations regarding the protection of voting rights for people with developmental disabilities in front of the Samcheong-dong Community Center in Jongno-gu, Seoul, where early voting booths for the 9th nationwide local elections have been set up on May 29, 2026. Photo by Yonhap News Agency

Prior to voting, President Lee met and spoke with dozens of activists from organizations advocating for the rights of people with developmental disabilities who were waiting at the community center.

One individual with developmental disabilities handed President Lee a handwritten letter. Upon opening it, President Lee asked, "Are you asking for pictures to be added to the ballots?" and "Do you mean you want the candidates' faces included on the ballots so voters can select by looking at people?"

When President Lee inquired, "Is this request for faces on ballots only for people with developmental disabilities?" the organizations responded, "It is also difficult for seniors and those who are not literate in Korean to vote without photos. Having photos and assistants makes it easier for them to make their own decisions."

Another person with developmental disabilities remarked, "The court said the law must be amended to allow for pictorial ballots." In response, President Lee instructed his aides present, "Please report on how much pictorial ballots would cost and why they are not currently possible."

Meanwhile, President Lee took commemorative photos and shook hands with people with developmental disabilities and activists. He also greeted and took photos with citizens near the polling station before entering to vote.

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