High School Seniors Cast Their 'First-Ever Votes'... Relay of Commemorative Photos

Effectiveness of Mayor Yoon Byungtae's "Voting Encouragement Campaign"
Naju Records Highest Early Voter Turnout in the Province
High School Seniors Experience Their "First-Ever Vote" as Citizens

Third-year high school students in Naju participating in their first-ever voting are taking pre-voting certification photos. Provided by Naju City

On May 29, the first day of early voting for the 21st presidential election, Naju City in South Jeolla Province recorded the highest voter turnout among city-level local governments in the province. In particular, third-year high school students in Naju who were born before June 4, 2007, participated in group voting for their 'first-ever vote,' marking a meaningful day as they experienced their initiation as voters.

According to Naju City on May 30, as of 6 p.m. on May 29, 36,306 out of a total of 99,973 registered voters had cast their ballots in early voting. The turnout rate was 36.32%, the highest among the five city-level local governments in the province.

On this day, third-year students from Jeonnam Science High School, Yeongsan High School, Gwangnam High School, Jeonnam Beauty High School, Maeseong High School, and Bonghwang High School participated in early voting. The students arrived at the polling stations in groups, and after casting their first-ever votes, took commemorative photos to remember their first steps as voters in South Korea.

A third-year student surnamed Lee from Yeongsan High School said, "I was nervous but proud to vote for the first time. I realized that my choice could influence society, and I felt a sense of responsibility as a citizen in a democracy."

A third-year student surnamed Kim from Gwangnam High School also shared, "The mayor came to the school early in the morning to encourage us to participate in our first-ever vote and emphasized its importance, which made me feel even more responsible. Through voting, I felt proud to be a member of society."

Yoon Byungtae, Mayor of Naju, had been conducting campaigns to encourage students to vote on their way to school, visiting Maeseong High School on May 23, Gwangnam High School on May 28, and Yeongsan High School on May 29, ahead of the early voting for the presidential election.

Mayor Yoon encouraged the students' participation, saying, "Your first-ever vote is the starting point for changing not only Naju but also the future of South Korea. I hope you will continue to cherish and protect the precious rights of democracy and become exemplary citizens."