Voter turnout reached 48.9 percent nationwide as of 2 p.m. Wednesday, according to the National Election Commission. The figure includes the 23.51 percent recorded during the early voting period held last Friday and Saturday.

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.

South Korea's early voting turnout for local elections reached a record high, ruling and opposition parties to offer different interpretations.

Polling for the 2026 local elections began simultaneously across 14,288 voting stations nationwide at 6 a.m. on Wednesday — with some voters already lining up before the doors…