Democratic Party leader Jung Cheong-rae, left, and People Power Party leader Jang Dong-hyeok campaign for their respective candidates at a market in Gwangyang, South Jeolla, and a market in Incheon on May 24. [YONHAP]
With a record number of voters casting ballots during early voting for Korea’s June 3 local elections, both major parties rushed to proclaim the turnout a favorable sign, while analysts cautioned that shifting voting patterns make its political implications far less clear than in the past.
A total of 23.51 percent of eligible voters cast their ballots during the two-day early voting period held on Friday and Saturday. The figure is up 2.89 percentage points from the 20.62 percent recorded in the 2022 local elections.
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