Korea Joongang Daily
Korea JoongAng Daily

First day of early voting in local election sees record turnout

Voter turnout reached 11.6 percent on Friday, the first day of early voting for the June 3 local elections, marking a record high for the opening day.

2026-05-29

President, DP and PPP political heavyweights cast ballots during early voting

President Lee Jae Myung and key figures from the ruling and opposition parties cast their ballots on Friday, the first day of early voting for the June 3 local elections.

2026-05-29

Early voting period for local, parliamentary by-elections begins with 0.99 percent turnout

Early voting for the June 3 local elections and parliamentary by-elections began simultaneously at 3,571 polling stations nationwide on Friday morning. As of 8 a.m., voter turnout was 0.99 percent.

2026-05-29

Korea's local elections to be President Lee's first litmus test, even if direct impact on governance unlikely

Exactly a year after people across Korea voted for a new president on June 3 of last year, another nationwide election will take place next week, serving as the first litmus test for the Lee Jae Myung administration.

2026-05-29

Rival parties intensify campaigns ahead of early voting for upcoming local elections, by-elections

Rival parties ramped up their campaigns to win over voters in key battlegrounds on Thursday, one day before early voting begins for the June 3 local elections and parliamentary by-elections.

2026-05-28

Current and former presidents stump in Busan ahead of June 3 elections

Busan became the stage for a rare political showdown on Wednesday as both current President Lee Jae Myung and former President Park Geun-hye campaigned in the key battleground city just a week ahead of the June 3 local elections.

2026-05-28

Gov't establishes data-related ministerial meeting

The government has established a meeting of ministers related to data production and management to make it a decision-making body on related issues so as to promote cooperation and coordinate interests between ministries.

2026-05-28

Outgoing National Assembly speaker highlights defending democracy from martial law, constitutional amendment failure

Outgoing National Assembly Speaker Woo Won-shik said on Thursday that the parliament “restored constitutional order” and upheld democracy by ending the short-lived martial law imposition by former President Yoon Suk Yeol in December 2024.

2026-05-28

Seoul court acquits Yoon of perjury in former prime minister's insurrection trial

A Seoul court acquitted former President Yoon Suk Yeol of perjury, rejecting prosecutors' argument that he lied at his former prime minister's insurrection trial about when he decided to convene a Cabinet meeting on the night of martial law.

2026-05-28

Labor minister announces forum for 'social dialogue' on distributing windfall corporate profits

Labor Minister Kim Young-hoon announced an emergency forum on Monday over how to distribute corporate windfall profits following labor disputes at Samsung Electronics, citing that “social dialogue is the only solution” to the growing debate.

2026-05-27