Ruling party leader casts his ballot on 1st day of early voting

The leader of the ruling People Power Party (PPP) cast his ballot Friday, the first day of early voting for next week's parliamentary elections, urging voters to exercise their rights. Voters began casting ballots at 3,565 polling stations nationwide at 6 a.m. in the two-day early voting taking place ahead of Wednesday's main vote to elect a new 300-member National Assembly. Speaking to reporters after casting his ballot at a polling station in Seoul, PPP leader Han Dong-hoon emphasized the significance of voter turnout in securing victory. "If you go to the polling station, (we) win, and if you don't go to the polling station, the Republic of Korea will fail," Han said. Han also framed this year's election as a battle between individuals defending their own crimes and those who have adhered to ethical standards, apparently referring to some candidates from the opposition bloc that have come under criticism for various allegations and ethical lapses. All 254 PPP candidates are scheduled to join Han in e arly voting later in the day. Han is set to continue the campaigning in key battlegrounds, such as Incheon, west of Seoul, and the wider Gyeonggi metropolitan region, to woo voters. Source: Yonhap News Agency