People Lining Up at Car Showrooms from Dawn... "I'm the First!" The Passion for Every Vote [Reportage]

"More Than Party Affiliation, Voters Look for Competence"
Everyday Spaces Become Polling Stations: Bakeries, Wedding Halls, Showrooms
From First-Time Young Voters to Octogenarians, Each Casts Their Vote
With Up to Seven Ballot Papers... "Double-C

"When I was just working to make money because I was hungry, I didn't even know what democracy meant. But as I got older, I realized how important voting is."

At around 5:50 a.m. on the 3rd, voters lined up to cast their ballots at Neungdong Third Polling Station set up at the Kia Motors Daegongwon Branch in Neungdong, Gwangjin-gu, Seoul. On this day, the main voting for the nationwide local elections and the by-elections for the National Assembly took place. Photo by Hosu Park

Around 6 a.m. on June 3, as the main voting for the 9th nationwide local elections and the by-elections for the National Assembly began, voters gathered at the Neungdong Third Polling Station (Kia Motors Daegongwon Dealership) in Neungdong, Gwangjin-gu, Seoul. Mr. Park (72, male), who had just finished voting, said with a bright smile, "I was the first to vote today." Having run a business in Dongdaemun-gu for 40 years, he added, "The value of a single vote feels greater as I get older."

On this day, at 14,288 polling stations across the country, voters flocked in from early morning to decide the future of their regions. Despite sweltering weather with daytime highs reaching up to 32 degrees Celsius, citizens cast their votes according to their own standards.

On the morning of June 3, the voting day for the 9th nationwide local elections, as soon as the doors opened at around 6 a.m. at the 2nd polling station in Jungnim-dong, Jung-gu, Seoul, citizens lined up to cast their votes early in the morning. Photo by Lee Jiye

As polling stations gradually became more active, citizens' attention naturally shifted to local issues. Many voters said they prioritized candidates' administrative experience and practical, everyday pledges over party affiliation or ideology. Around the same time, Ms. Ko (33, female), who was leaving the Jungnim-dong Second Polling Station at the Jungnim Community Welfare Center in Jung-gu, Seoul, holding her four-year-old child's hand, remarked, "Many of the candidates' policies are similar, so in the end, I looked most closely at what they have actually done so far."

Mr. Choi (52, male), a resident of a nearby apartment, also said, "When I looked at the campaign booklets, I was more drawn to issues like alley maintenance or jobs, rather than national politics. I hope someone is elected who actually does things that help the residents." Park Jongmin (24, male), a university student, commented, "These are people who will be in charge of local affairs, so it's more important that they are people who will actually go out and work, rather than their political leanings."

Bakeries, Wedding Halls, and Showrooms... Everyday Spaces Become Polling Stations

On the morning of the 3rd, voters are casting their ballots using a ballot box installed inside the new car showroom at Neungdong 3rd Polling Station, set up at the Kia Motors Daegongwon Dealership in Neungdong, Gwangjin-gu, Seoul. Photo by Hosoo Park

What caught voters' attention that day were the unique polling stations set up in everyday spaces such as bakeries, car showrooms, and wedding halls. The car showroom in Gwangjin-gu, Seoul, usually filled with new cars, was turned into a polling place for residents. Yun Byungsoo (66, male), whom we met there, said, "I came early in the morning because I have plans in the afternoon, and it felt unique to see the polling station alongside the cars. I hope someone is elected who will work for the people and the country."

At the Hwikyung Neighborhood 1-dong Third Polling Station set up at Bellaluce Wedding Hall in Hwikyung-dong, Dongdaemun-gu, Seoul, Jeong Seungmo (80, male) said, "The main voting feels more comfortable than early voting, so I scheduled my visit accordingly. It's a wedding hall, so the facilities and accessibility are great, which is very satisfying." In Seoul, spaces such as 'Lala Bread' bakery in Suyu-dong, Gangbuk-gu, the Seoul-type Kids Café at the Municipal Hwagok Branch in Gangseo-gu, and the Kids Studio at Songpa Book Museum in Songpa-gu, also turned into polling stations for a day, welcoming residents' votes. Spaces where people would usually pick out bread or where children would play became polling stations just for this day.

Thoughts Reflected in Each Vote... Small Incidents at Polling Stations

Some citizens at the polling stations shared their opinions about the election system and voting method. Mr. Sung (68, male) said, "I heard the early voting turnout was the highest ever, but personally, I find that a bit disappointing. I think the main voting is more reliable." Lee Deokhoon (35, male) argued, "I think the early voting system needs to be improved, and the criteria for foreign nationals' voting rights in local elections should be reviewed more thoroughly."

At around 6:40 a.m. on the 3rd, a voter is entering the 5th polling station set up in the underground parking lot of Wanchang Public Exam Center in Gongdeok-dong, Mapo-gu, Seoul to cast their vote. Photo by Jiyye Lee

Meanwhile, at the Seongsu 1-ga 2-dong Second Polling Station set up at Seongsu High School in Seongdong-gu, young voters continued to arrive after voting, heading for outings in the nearby Seongsu-dong and Seoul Forest. Kim (22, female), a university student who cast her ballot in the local elections for the first time, said with a laugh, "It's my first local election, and I was nervous because there were more ballots than I expected."

Kim mentioned that, being aware of recent controversies surrounding the color of celebrities' clothing or their gestures during election season, she deliberately wore neutral-colored clothes to the polling station. She added, "I realized I shouldn't be indifferent to politics. I thought of the election as a learning experience, so I came out early with my family before going on a trip." Park (20), a student at the University of Seoul, said, "I just finished my first vote ever. Rather than grand political rhetoric, I voted for someone who can actually address the difficulties faced by young people like myself."

There were also minor incidents at some polling stations. At the Bellaluce Wedding Hall polling station in Dongdaemun-gu, an elderly voter accidentally opened the curtain of a voting booth in use and, after being guided by an election official, moved to another booth. At the Seongsu High School polling station in Seongdong-gu, a young voter took out their mobile phone to take a commemorative photo after voting, but after being told that photography is not allowed inside the polling station, left with an embarrassed smile.

Up to Seven Ballots... "Please Check Before You Vote"

On the morning of the 3rd, at the Hwikyung Neighborhood 1-dong Third Voting Station set up in Bellaluce Wedding Hall in Hwikyung-dong, Dongdaemun-gu, Seoul, an election official guided an elderly voter through the voting procedure. At this polling station, some elderly voters were seen double-checking multiple ballots and the order of marking. Photo by Hosoo Park

In this local election, most voters received up to seven ballots to elect heads of metropolitan governments, heads of basic local governments, superintendents of education, metropolitan council members, and basic council members. In areas where by-elections for the National Assembly were also held, one additional ballot was given. As there were multiple ballots, many voters checked the order or flipped through the ballots one by one before voting.

Some elderly voters, upon receiving the ballots, asked, "Are we voting for all of these today?" or double-checked the order of marking. Election officials explained, "After receiving your ballots, please calmly check them in order and then mark your choices."

Meanwhile, unlike early voting, the main voting can only be done at the polling station corresponding to your registered address. Voters must bring a photo ID such as a resident registration card, driver's license, or passport, and a mobile ID can also be used. However, screenshots of an ID are not accepted. In addition, taking pictures of ballots inside the voting booth or posting ballots on social networking services (SNS) is prohibited. Any campaign activities in support of a particular candidate or party within 100 meters of a polling station are also restricted.

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