Korea votes: Nearly 77.8% of eligible voters cast ballots by 7 p.m.

Turnout in Korea’s 21st presidential election reached 77.8 percent as of 7 p.m. on Tuesday, surpassing the final turnouts of the last two elections.

According to the National Election Commission (NEC), 34,553,900 out of 44,391,871 eligible voters had cast their ballots by that time.

Voting will continue until 8 p.m. at 14,295 polling stations across the country. 

Regional turnout was highest in Gwangju at 82.9 percent, followed by South Jeolla at 82.8 percent, North Jeolla at 81.5 percent and Sejong at 81.3 percent.

Attention is now focused on whether the final turnout will surpass 80 percent — a level not seen since the 1997 presidential election. The final turnout in the 2022 election was 77.1 percent, and 77.2 percent in 2017.

Voter turnout data reported after 1 p.m. includes the early voting that was held on May 29 and 30.

During early voting, 15,423,607 people participated, marking a cumulative turnout of 34.74 percent — the second-highest figure ever recorded in a Korean presidential election.

Unlike early voting, voters can only cast their ballots at polling stations designated based on their registered address. All Korean citizens aged 18 and older who have not already voted are eligible to participate.

Ballot counting will begin after polls close at 8 p.m.

Exit poll results from the three major broadcasters — MBC, KBS and SBS — are expected to be released at exactly 8 p.m.

Election results are expected to emerge around midnight.

Translated from the JoongAng Ilbo using generative AI and edited by Korea JoongAng Daily staff.

BY CHO MUN-GYU, BAE JAE-SUNG [paik.jihwan@joongang.co.kr]