WORLD
Early voting for presidential election kicks off
Baku, March 4, AZERTAC
Early voting for the presidential election kicked off Friday at 3,552 polling stations nationwide, with ruling party candidate Lee Jae-myung and main opposition candidate Yoon Suk-yeol among the first to cast their ballots, according to Yonhap.
Lee of the liberal Democratic Party visited a polling station in central Seoul, while Yoon of the conservative People Power Party voted in the southeastern city of Busan.
Yoon spoke to reporters after visiting the United Nations Memorial Cemetery in Busan to pay tribute to the fallen soldiers of the 1950-53 Korean War.
Early voting is open to anyone who wishes to cast their ballot before Election Day next Wednesday.
More than 44 million people are eligible to vote in this year's election.
President Moon Jae-in and first lady Kim Jung-sook voted at a polling booth near Cheong Wa Dae.
Polling stations will open from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Friday and Saturday. COVID-19 patients and those in quarantine will be able to vote if they arrive at a polling station between 5 p.m. and 6 p.m. Saturday.
This year's presidential election is being held concurrently with by-elections for five parliamentary seats.
Early voting for the parliamentary elections will take place at the same places at the same time.