Yoon Cast Early Vote in Busan: "Voting Is Both an Exercise of Sovereign Rights and a Duty" (Comprehensive)

Find Gangseo-gu Myeongji 1-dong Administrative Welfare Center

President Yoon Suk-yeol is casting his ballot into the ballot box at the early voting station in Myeongji 1-dong Administrative Welfare Center, Gangseo-gu, Busan, on the 5th, when early voting for the 22nd National Assembly election began. [Image source=Yonhap News]

President Yoon Suk-yeol cast his early vote on the morning of the 5th, the first day of early voting for the 22nd National Assembly election, at the Myeongji 1-dong Administrative Welfare Center in Gangseo-gu, Busan.

Around 11:05 a.m. that day, President Yoon arrived at the Myeongji 1-dong Administrative Welfare Center and voted without accompanying First Lady Kim Keon-hee.

Presidential aides including Sung Tae-yoon, Chief of Policy Office, Lee Do-woon, Chief of Public Relations, Park Chun-seop, Chief of Economic Affairs, and Jang Sang-yoon, Chief of Social Affairs, who were accompanying the president on his regional schedule, reportedly waited near the entrance of the polling station.

First Lady Kim has ceased all official external activities for 112 days since returning from accompanying the president on his Netherlands trip on December 15 last year.

During the nationwide local elections held on May 27, 2022, President Yoon voted on the first day of early voting at the Itaewon 1-dong early voting station located in the Yongsan District Council building in Seoul, accompanied by First Lady Kim.

President Yoon Suk-yeol presents his ID to an election official at the early voting station in Myeongji 1-dong Administrative Welfare Center, Gangseo-gu, Busan, on the 5th, when early voting for the 22nd National Assembly election began.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

Upon arriving at the Administrative Welfare Center, President Yoon moved to the auditorium on the third floor where the early voting station was located, following the guidance of the staff. After receiving an explanation about the out-of-district early voting method from officials, he lined up, went through identity verification, and received his ballot.

He then proceeded to the voting booth, completed his vote, folded the ballot, sealed it in the prepared return envelope, and placed it in the ballot box. As he left, President Yoon encouraged the officials at the polling station by saying, "Thank you for your hard work."

Many citizens were waiting in line to vote both inside and outside the polling station, and some applauded President Yoon as he finished voting and exited, according to a written briefing by presidential spokesperson Kim Soo-kyung.

Yoon Urges "Everyone to Exercise Their Sovereign Rights Without Exception"

Regarding early voting the day before, President Yoon stated, "Voting is not only an exercise of the sovereign's rights but also a duty," and urged, "I hope everyone exercises their sovereignty without exception."

The Gangseo-gu district in Busan, where President Yoon cast his early vote, is a newly subdivided area in this general election's electoral district delineation and is considered a key region in the Nakdong River belt.

It is the area where former President Roh Moo-hyun ran and lost in the 16th National Assembly election, and as of the end of last year, it has the highest proportion of children nationwide at 21.3%, making it a region with many young voters.

In particular, this area is a fiercely contested battleground where Democratic Party candidate Byun Sung-wan and People Power Party candidate Kim Do-eup are engaged in a close race within the margin of error.