[Report] First Day of Early Voting, "Judgment on the Regime" VS "Protection of the Regime"

Travel on Election Day, Early Voting Due to Hurry of Heart
Diverse Combinations of 'Jiminbijo' District and Proportional Representation Parties

At around 7:30 a.m. on the 5th, the early voting site in Sinchon-dong, Seodaemun-gu, Seoul was relatively quiet. Some people stopped by on their way to work to participate in the early voting that started that day, while others were Seodaemungap voters coming to vote within the district. Some came to vote early because they had travel plans or work on the main voting day, April 10, and others said they had already made up their minds and wanted to vote as soon as possible. Although voters' preferences were divided between judging the current administration and supporting it, the combinations of district candidates and proportional representation parties varied.

On the first day of early voting for the 22nd National Assembly election on the 5th, voters are casting their early votes at the early voting station in Sinchon-dong, Seodaemun-gu, Seoul. Photo by Hyunmin Kim kimhyun81@

Mr. Lee (male, 40s), who said he came to vote early because he was in a hurry, stated, "I didn’t check who the district candidate was, and I voted for JiminBijo (district Democratic Party, proportional representation Innovation Party for Justice)." He added, "I really dislike that side (People Power Party), and if they reform the prosecution, they will turn everyone into Cho Kuk, so it’s like telling us not to do anything." He also said, "That party lacks capability, so they conduct raids and act coercively."

A mother and daughter walking out together after voting said, "District candidate for the Democratic Party, proportional representation for the Democratic United Party." The mother, Ms. Bae (female, 50s), said, "The current administration is doing so poorly that I voted for the Democratic Party." Her daughter, Ms. Ahn (female, 20s), said, "I’m not sure if the Yoon Seok-yeol administration cares about the country or if their policies are effective. Because of issues like Japan’s Dokdo dispute and women’s rights, I voted for the Democratic Party."

On the other hand, Mr. Lee (male, 30s), who disliked Democratic Party leader Lee Jae-myung and voted for the People Power Party and its satellite proportional party, People’s Future, said, "I dislike Lee’s anti-Japan diplomacy and pro-China diplomacy. Also, he has too many criminal allegations, and the Seodaemungap district candidate was a lawyer involved in the Daejang-dong scandal."

Mr. Jang (male, 70s), who wore badges of the Taegeukgi and the U.S. flag on his jacket, said, "The country is in trouble, so we need to support the current administration by voting for the People Power Party district candidate. If you visit Gwanghwamun Square on weekends, you’ll see Pastor Jeon Kwang-hoon’s deep patriotism, and with that spirit, I voted for the Liberty Unification Party as the proportional party because they must enter the National Assembly." Mr. Ko (male, 80s) said, "I voted for 2 and 4," adding, "It’s not that I dislike the opposing party, but we need to empower the administration."

Mr. Yeo (male, 20s), a Seodaemungap voter, said he voted for the Democratic Party for the district candidate and the Reform Innovation Party for proportional representation. He said, "I wish there were car-free streets in the neighborhood. The Democratic Party plans to promote car-free streets, but the People Power Party does not. I’m not fond of either the Democratic Party or the People Power Party for proportional representation, but I voted for the Reform Innovation Party because their 10 proposed visions align with what I want."

On the first day of early voting for the 22nd National Assembly election on the 5th, a voter is entering the early voting station in Sinchon-dong, Seodaemun-gu, Seoul to cast their early vote. Photo by Youngchan Choi elach1@