People line up for early voting at an integrated administration and welfare center in Sejong, Friday, the first day of early voting for the June 3 local elections. Yonhap

Two days of early voting for the June 3 local elections began Friday.

The early voting rate has been a predictor of voter turnout; in previous local elections, voters have increasingly cast their votes early, from 11.49 percent in 2014 to 20.14 percent in 2018 and 20.62 percent in 2022. According to a poll by the National Election Commission, 73.6 percent of voters said they planned to cast a ballot, reflecting a general sentiment of democratic enthusiasm rather than apathy. That enthusiasm should mean that election outcomes are not defined by ardent or extreme factionalism, or voters aligning blindly with party preference, but rather careful consideration of each candidate's policy pledges.

While high early voting turnout translated into an advantage for the liberal and progressive parties in the previous election, political watchers have cautiously suggested that this dynamic may no longer apply.

The ruling Democratic Party of Korea (DPK), main opposition People Power Party (PPP) and minor parties have fielded candidates for 16 metropolitan and provincial chiefs, 227 mayors and county heads, 804 metropolitan council members and 2,650 local council members, including 16 superintendents. A total of 14 vacant National Assembly seats will also be filled.

Just several weeks ago, political winds seemed to be decisively blowing toward the DPK, driven by the high approval ratings of President Lee Jae Myung, whose pragmatic diplomacy, support of the nation's bourse and plan to make South Korea a top-three artificial intelligence powerhouse have all performed well. The PPP's floundering after the Dec. 3, 2024, martial law declaration was partly responsible for the DPK's rally. However, sentiments may have changed when the DPK pushed forward a questionable bill, which included allowing independent counsel to withdraw indictments in ongoing trials. By including eight trials related to President Lee Jae Myung, the bill has drawn ire from opposition parties and protests from academic as well as civic groups.

The discontent toward the DPK over the questionable bill is a reminder to the ruling party that a "we've already won" mindset can trigger voters to respond in an opposite manner. Both the DPK and the PPP are expecting stiff competition, unlike the past several weeks, especially in 16 fiercely contested metropolitan and government races.

The DPK has put a hold on voting on the controversial bill, but would be wise to reconsider pushing it through even after the elections. For its part, the PPP must review its standing in an election where a rival party tripping over its own feet is the most positive factor.

Familiar party-led campaign dynamics are also at work. Political bigwigs have rushed to campaign for their respective party candidates, as both parties herd core supporters to the voting booths. The DPK has criticized former President Park Geun-hye, who was impeached in 2017 for corruption and cronyism but recently showed public support for the PPP's candidate in the Daegu mayoral race. Meanwhile, the PPP protested Lee's attendance at the national Sea Day ceremony in Busan on Wednesday, seen as part of a tour of hotly contested southeastern electoral districts. In its own opposition party days, the DPK had criticized former President Yoon Suk Yeol for traveling to regions to support PPP candidates during the 2022 local elections.

While parties trade attacks with mudslinging and negative campaigns and candidates make broadly appealing pledges to encourage voter turnout, the candidates must remember that affordability and other economic issues in this artificial intelligence-driven era of transformation may ultimately shape voters' decisions.

Source: Korea Times News