A man casts his ballot in the presidential election at a polling station in Seoul, South Korea, March 4, 2022. An early voting for South Korea's presidential election kicked off Friday ahead of the election day on March 9. (Photo by James Lee/Xinhua)
SEOUL, March 4 (Xinhua) -- An early voting for South Korea's presidential election kicked off Friday ahead of the election day on March 9.
The early voting, which was adopted in 2013 and first applied to the 2014 local elections, will be carried out for two days through Saturday.
Over 44 million eligible voters, who wish to cast ballots before the election day, will be allowed to vote at 3,552 polling stations across the country from 6:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. local time.
As of 1:00 p.m., the early voting turnout was a highest 8.75 percent, surpassing the previous record high of 5.98 percent for the parliamentary election in April 2020.
It was also compared with the previous presidential election's early voting turnout of 5.8 percent for the same time.
COVID-19 patients and those in quarantine will be allowed to cast ballots if they arrive at polling stations between 5:00 p.m. and 6:00 p.m. on Saturday. ■
Voters fill in ballots in the presidential election at a polling station in Seoul, South Korea, March 4, 2022. An early voting for South Korea's presidential election kicked off Friday ahead of the election day on March 9. (Photo by James Lee/Xinhua)
A man has his temperature checked before voting in the presidential election at a polling station in Seoul, South Korea, March 4, 2022. An early voting for South Korea's presidential election kicked off Friday ahead of the election day on March 9. (Photo by James Lee/Xinhua)
A voter prepares to vote after filling his ballot in the presidential election at a polling station in Seoul, South Korea, March 4, 2022. An early voting for South Korea's presidential election kicked off Friday ahead of the election day on March 9. (Photo by James Lee/Xinhua)
A woman casts her ballot in the presidential election at a polling station in Seoul, South Korea, March 4, 2022. An early voting for South Korea's presidential election kicked off Friday ahead of the election day on March 9. (Photo by James Lee/Xinhua)
Voters fill in ballots in the presidential election at a polling station in Seoul, South Korea, March 4, 2022. An early voting for South Korea's presidential election kicked off Friday ahead of the election day on March 9. (Photo by James Lee/Xinhua)
South Korean presidential candidate Yoon Suk-yeol of the People Power Party casts his ballot in the presidential election at a polling station in Busan, South Korea, March 4, 2022. An early voting for South Korea's presidential election kicked off Friday ahead of the election day on March 9.
The early voting, which was adopted in 2013 and first applied to the 2014 local elections, will be carried out for two days through Saturday. (Photo by James Lee/Xinhua)
South Korean presidential candidate Sim Sang-jeung of the Justice Party prepares to vote in the presidential election at a polling station in Seoul, South Korea, March 4, 2022. An early voting for South Korea's presidential election kicked off Friday ahead of the election day on March 9.
The early voting, which was adopted in 2013 and first applied to the 2014 local elections, will be carried out for two days through Saturday. (NEWSIS/Handout via Xinhua)
South Korean presidential candidate Lee Jae-myung of the Democratic Party casts his ballot in the presidential election at a polling station in Seoul, South Korea, March 4, 2022. An early voting for South Korea's presidential election kicked off Friday ahead of the election day on March 9.
The early voting, which was adopted in 2013 and first applied to the 2014 local elections, will be carried out for two days through Saturday. (Xinhua/POOL)