대선 투표 시작
Let's kick off our election coverage by dropping in on one of the almost 14-thousand polling stations that are open around the country.
If you are eligible to vote and haven't already,... you have until 8 p.m. tonight to cast your ballot and have your say on the next president of Korea.
So,.. let's speak with our Lee Unshin.... who joins us from a polling station in central Seoul.
Unshin,... we last spoke to you around three hours ago... and there were a few people coming through... how's it looking now?
Morning Mark, so I'm here at this polling station in Jung-gu District, an area known as the very heart of the capital, and the center of the nation's politics and economy.
I've been here since before the station opened, and for the past 4 hours or so, not too many, but some, came in to cast their ballot...early birds, I guess you could say.
I actually had the chance to speak to some of them....some expressed concerns that their favored candidate might not have enough support, and some seemed confident that their preferred candidate will become the next leader of South Korea.
But regardless, these citizens are all saying that "this is our civic duty as well as our right to show up and cast our ballot."
Let's turn to one voter... and hear what he had to say.
"I voted because this is my right, and a way to make my voice heard. All throughout my life, I haven't missed a single presidential election."
So as you can see there are some determined voters out there.
Unlike early voting, today, voters can only cast their ballot at their designated polling stations... which are shown on the election pack you should've received through the mail.
At this particular station, I've also seen a few people coming in and being directed to go to a different polling place...but since the stations are open 'till 8 p.m. local time, they have plenty of time, roughly ten hours to go find the right station to make their vote count.
Alright, that's good to know.... it's not like the early voting system where you could vote anywhere... you have to go to the right place. Are you able to get a sense of how many people might show up there today? We are hearing that turnout could be very high in this election...
So far not that many voters have shown up here, but it's important to keep in mind that, if you look at some of the past occasions, the highest voter turnout rate was seen between noon to 2 p.m. during the days of the 16th and 18th Korean presidential election.
So perhaps more voters will turn up this afternoon.
Also let's not forget, many residents have already voted.
The nation saw one of the highest early voting turnouts throughout the two-day period from last Thursday to Friday.
Some eleven million voters, that's some 26-percent of total registered voters by the way.... hit polling stations early to cast their vote.
And historically, a high early voting rate results in an overall higher turnout, which is expected to be over 80-percent this year, and many say that could be a record.
So it's an exciting day for many reasons and I'm expecting to see more and more voters swing by.
I'll make sure to keep you posted on the numbers throughout the day.
Back to you.
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