Democracy through the ages: Koreans make local voting a family affair — in pictures

CHO YONG-JUN
Published
A voter casts a ballot while carrying a baby in a baby carrier at a polling station set up at the Gangnam District Office in Gangnam District, Seoul, on June 3, the day of the 9th nationwide local elections. [NEWS1]
A voter casts a ballot while carrying a baby in a baby carrier at a polling station set up at the Gangnam District Office in Gangnam District, Seoul, on June 3, the day of the 9th nationwide local elections.

Turnout for the June 3 local elections reached 57.4 percent by 5 p.m. as voters streamed into polling stations across the country, with many families who came together with their young children. 

The vote, open from 6:00 a.m. across 14,288 polling stations nationwide, elects mayors, governors, education superintendents, and council seats. National Assembly by-elections are being held at the same time. 

Voting will close at 6:00 p.m. 

Many families came in pairs and groups, bringing young children along to the polls. Some families and younger voters also marked the occasion with a commemorative "I voted" photo or stamp on the backs of their hands or paper brought from home before posing for the camera on their way out. 

A child who came with her mother places a ballot into the box at a polling station in Daegu on the morning of June 3, the day of the 9th nationwide local elections. [NEWS1]
A child who came with her mother places a ballot into the box at a polling station in Daegu on the morning of June 3, the day of the 9th nationwide local elections.
Voters cast their ballots with their child at a polling station set up at Eonju Middle School in Gangnam District, Seoul, on June 3, the day of the 9th nationwide local elections and National Assembly by-elections. [NEWS1]
Voters cast their ballots with their child at a polling station set up at Eonju Middle School in Gangnam District, Seoul, on June 3, the day of the 9th nationwide local elections and National Assembly by-elections.
A family votes at a polling station set up in the indoor ssireum (Korean wrestling) arena of the Seongnam Sports Complex in Jungwon District, Seongnam, Gyeonggi, on June 3, the main voting day for the 9th nationwide local elections and National Assembly by-elections. [NEWS1]
A family votes at a polling station set up in the indoor ssireum (Korean wrestling) arena of the Seongnam Sports Complex in Jungwon District, Seongnam, Gyeonggi, on June 3, the main voting day for the 9th nationwide local elections and National Assembly by-elections.
Voters cast their ballots with their children at a polling station set up at an indoor sports center in Dobong-dong, Dobong District, Seoul, on the morning of June 3, the day of the 9th nationwide local elections. [NEWS1]
Voters cast their ballots with their children at a polling station set up at an indoor sports center in Dobong-dong, Dobong District, Seoul, on the morning of June 3, the day of the 9th nationwide local elections.
A family casts their ballots at a polling station set up in the showroom of a Kia Daegongwon dealership in Gwangjin District, Seoul, on the morning of June 3, the day of the 9th nationwide local elections. [NEWS1]
A family casts their ballots at a polling station set up in the showroom of a Kia Daegongwon dealership in Gwangjin District, Seoul, on the morning of June 3, the day of the 9th nationwide local elections.
Voters pose for commemorative photos at a polling station set up at the Hillstate Changgyeonggung apartment complex in Jongno District, Seoul, on June 3, the day of the 9th nationwide local elections. [NEWS1]
Voters pose for commemorative photos at a polling station set up at the Hillstate Changgyeonggung apartment complex in Jongno District, Seoul, on June 3, the day of the 9th nationwide local elections.
Voters arrive at a polling station set up at the Baengnyeong Public Library on Baengnyeong Island, the northernmost island in the Yellow Sea, on the morning of June 3, the day of the 9th nationwide local elections. [YONHAP]
Voters arrive at a polling station set up at the Baengnyeong Public Library on Baengnyeong Island, the northernmost island in the Yellow Sea, on the morning of June 3, the day of the 9th nationwide local elections.
Voters pose for commemorative photos after voting at a polling station set up at Eonju Middle School in Gangnam District, Seoul, on June 3, the day of the 9th nationwide local elections and National Assembly by-elections. [NEWS1]
Voters pose for commemorative photos after voting at a polling station set up at Eonju Middle School in Gangnam District, Seoul, on June 3, the day of the 9th nationwide local elections and National Assembly by-elections.
Members of a family hold up the backs of their hands after voting outside a polling station set up at Yeouido Middle School in Yeongdeungpo District, Seoul, on June 3, the day of the local elections. [YONHAP]
Members of a family hold up the backs of their hands after voting outside a polling station set up at Yeouido Middle School in Yeongdeungpo District, Seoul, on June 3, the day of the local elections.
A family casts their ballots at a polling station set up in the indoor ssireum (Korean wrestling) arena of the Seongnam Sports Complex in Jungwon District, Seongnam, Gyeonggi, on June 3, the main voting day for the 9th nationwide local elections and National Assembly by-elections. [NEWS1]
A family casts their ballots at a polling station set up in the indoor ssireum (Korean wrestling) arena of the Seongnam Sports Complex in Jungwon District, Seongnam, Gyeonggi, on June 3, the main voting day for the 9th nationwide local elections and National Assembly by-elections.
A voter in a wheelchair casts a ballot with the help of a polling official at a polling station set up at the Pohang Employment and Welfare Plus Center in Jukdo-dong, Buk District, Pohang, North Gyeongsang, on the morning of June 3, the day of the 9th nationwide local elections. [NEWS1]
A voter in a wheelchair casts a ballot with the help of a polling official at a polling station set up at the Pohang Employment and Welfare Plus Center in Jukdo-dong, Buk District, Pohang, North Gyeongsang, on the morning of June 3, the day of the 9th nationwide local elections.
Nuns head to the voting booths at a polling station set up at the Myeongdong Community Service Center in Jung District, Seoul, on the morning of June 3, the day of the 9th nationwide local elections. [NEWS1]
Nuns head to the voting booths at a polling station set up at the Myeongdong Community Service Center in Jung District, Seoul, on the morning of June 3, the day of the 9th nationwide local elections.

BY CHO YONG-JUN [cho.yongjun1@joongang.co.kr]

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