Many South Koreans headed to the polls Friday in early voting for next week's local elections and parliamentary by-elections, widely seen as a referendum on President Lee Jae Myung's first year in office.

Over 3,500 polling stations nationwide open Friday as the two-day early voting period for the June 3 election begins. Any of the 44.64 million eligible voters,

Exactly a year after people across Korea voted for a new president on June 3 of last year, another nationwide election will take place next week, serving as the first litmus test…

President Lee Jae Myung and key figures from the ruling and opposition parties cast their ballots on Friday, the first day of early voting for the June 3 local elections.

Voter turnout reached 11.6 percent on Friday, the first day of early voting for the June 3 local elections, marking a record high for the opening day.