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An official from the Seoul Metropolitan Election Commission holds up a stamp used for marking ballots at an early voting station set up at the Sinsa-dong Complex Government Building in Gwanak District, Seoul, on May 28. / Photo by Park Sung-il

Early voting for South Korea’s 21st presidential election began at 6 a.m. on May 29 at 3,568 polling stations nationwide. Presidential candidates are also participating in the two-day early voting period, which runs through May 30 from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily.

Democratic Party candidate Lee Jae-myung is scheduled to cast his vote at 10 a.m. in the Sinchon area of Seoul.

People Power Party candidate Kim Moon-soo plans to vote around 10 a.m. while campaigning in Gyeyang District, Incheon, by visiting a nearby polling station.

New Reform Party candidate Lee Jun-seok will vote at the Dongtan 9-dong early voting station in Hwaseong, Gyeonggi Province, also around 10 a.m.

Voters can cast their ballots at any early voting site without prior registration. Polling station locations are available on the National Election Commission’s website (www.nec.go.kr) or through major portal sites.

To vote, citizens must present a valid photo ID issued by a government agency, such as a resident registration card, passport, or driver’s license. Mobile IDs are accepted only when the official app is used to display the photo, name, and date of birth; screenshots or image files are not valid.

Voters are warned not to photograph their marked ballots or damage them, as such actions are punishable by law.

The main election day is set for June 3, with polling hours from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. On-site election commissions in cities, counties, and districts will store early and mail-in ballots under 24-hour surveillance via CCTV until election day. The footage can be viewed in real-time at regional election commission offices.