South Korea’sRe-election and By-election Sees Record Low Turnout at 24.62%

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10 月 17, 2024 #election, #lowturnout, #韩联社-政治

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South Korea’s By-Elections See Record Low Turnout: Only 24.62% of Voters Cast Ballots

Seoul, South Korea -The recent by-elections in South Korea, held on October 16th, saw a record low turnout of 24.62%, according topreliminary data released by the National Election Commission. This marks a significant decline in voter participation compared to previous by-elections.

The by-elections were held in fiveconstituencies across the country, including four for local district heads (in Busan’s Geumjeong District, Incheon’s Ganghwa County, Jeollanam-do’s Yeonggwang County, and GokseongCounty) and one for the Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education superintendent.

A total of 2,128,077 out of 8,645,118 eligible voters participated in the elections. Thislow turnout highlights a growing trend of voter apathy in South Korea, raising concerns about the health of the country’s democracy.

President Yoon Suk-yeol himself cast his ballot for the Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education superintendent at a polling station in Yongsan Art Hall in Seoul. However, his presence did little to boost voterturnout.

The low turnout can be attributed to a number of factors, including a lack of public interest in the candidates and the issues at stake, as well as a growing sense of disillusionment with the political system.

Experts suggest that the low turnout could have significant implications for the future of South Korean politics.It could lead to a further erosion of public trust in the government and make it more difficult for elected officials to enact meaningful change.

Moving Forward:

The low turnout in the recent by-elections serves as a stark reminder of the challenges facing South Korean democracy. It is crucial for political leaders to address the concerns ofvoters and find ways to increase engagement in the political process. This could involve implementing reforms to make the political system more responsive to the needs of the people, as well as promoting civic education to encourage greater voter participation.

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