| Kim Chong-in, a veteran economist and politician who helped both President Moon Jae-in and his predecessor, Park Geun-hye, win presidential elections, speaks during a lecture at a theater in Seoul's Mapo District in this Feb. 10 photo. Joint Press Corps |
By Jung Da-min
Political heavyweights and celebrities showed up at polling stations to cast their votes.
Kim Chong-in, a veteran economist who helped President Moon Jae-in and his predecessor Park Geun-hye in their presidential campaigns, voted at a polling station in central Seoul's Jongno District.
“The high early voter turnout indicates high participation by active supporters of each candidate,” Kim told reporters, adding he had no idea who won in the early voting.
“But the final election results will be different depending on the total turnout,” he said, without mentioning who he expects to win the race.
| Lee Jae-myung, the presidential candidate of the ruling Democratic Party of Korea, speaks while campaigning outside in Seoul's Mapo District, Tuesday. Joint Press Corps |
| Yoon Suk-yeol, the presidential candidate of the main opposition People Power Party, speaks while campaigning near Gangnam Station in southern Seoul, Tuesday. Joint Press Corps |
Many other political heavyweights cast their ballots during the two-day early voting period on March 4 and 5.
PPP Chairman Lee Jun-seok and DPK Chairman Rep. Song Young-gil cast their ballots on the first day of early voting in Gwangju and Jeju Island, respectively.
DPK election camp chairman Lee Nak-yon and PPP Rep. Hong Joon-pyo, who had competed earlier with Lee and Yoon in their respective parties' presidential candidate primaries, cast their ballots on the second day of early voting, from Seoul and Daegu, respectively.
| Democratic Party of Korea Chairman Rep. Song Young-gil, left and People Power Party Chairman Lee Jun-seok submit their ballots in the early voting period for the presidential election, Friday, from Jeju Island and Gwangju, respectively. Yonhap |
| Democratic Party of Korea election camp chairman Lee Nak-yon, left and People Power Party Rep. Hong Joon-pyo submit their ballots in the early voting period for the presidential election, Saturday, from Seoul and Daegu, respectively. Yonhap |
Ahn Cheol-soo of the minor opposition conservative People's Party, who withdrew his candidacy and declared his support for Yoon, cast his ballot, Saturday, at a polling station in Seoul's Yeongdeungpo District.
Kim Dong-yeon of the minor opposition centrist New Wave, who also withdrew his candidacy to unite with Lee, cast his ballot on Friday at a polling station in Nonsan, South Chungcheong Province.
| Ahn Cheol-soo of the minor opposition conservative People's Party, right, who withdrew his candidacy for unity with Yoon Suk-yeol of the main opposition conservative People Power Party, submits his ballot on Saturday at a polling station in Seoul's Yeongdeungpo District, together with his election camp chairman, Sogang University Professor Emeritus Choi Jin-seok. Yonhap |
| Kim Dong-yeon of the minor opposition centrist New Wave, right, who withdrew his candidacy to unite with Lee Jae-myung of the ruling liberal Democratic Party of Korea, drops off his ballot at a polling station in Nonsan, South Chungcheong Province, on Friday, together with his wife, Jeong Woo-young. Yonhap |
Meantime, celebrities including actors and singers have also been voting on Election Day or during the early voting period.
Jun Hyun-moo, a TV personality and former announcer with local broadcaster KBS, uploaded a photo of himself in front of a polling station in Seoul's Gangnam District, Wednesday, saying he had exercised his suffrage for “sacred sovereignty.”
RM and J-Hope, two members of the K-pop supergroup BTS, cast their ballots in the early voting period, Saturday, and uploaded a related Instagram story the same day.
| TV personality Jun Hyun-moo takes a selfie in front of a polling station in Seoul's Gangnam District, Wednesday. Screenshot from Jun Hyun-moo's Instagram account |
| BTS / Courtesy of Big Hit Music |