"I arrived at the polling place at 7:30 a.m. local time and waited for the doors to open. I have participated in overseas elections since 2012, but this is the first time I rushed so early."
The voting for the 21st presidential election for overseas citizens began on the 20th, with Seoman-kyu, president of the Korean Association in Beijing, being the first to enter the polling place. He said, "I hope the chaotic situation will be resolved soon." He expressed hope for the next government, stating, "The relationship with China is difficult, and the business environment for citizens and corporations is not good, so I hope the relationship between the two countries improves quickly and the living environment for our people gets better."
On this day, two weeks before the June 3rd presidential election, overseas voting began in various countries around the world. In Beijing, where the Korean Embassy is located, voting for pre-registered applicants will take place daily from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. from the 20th to the 25th.
On this day, about 20 nationals waiting to vote before work gathered around 7:30 a.m. when the polling place opened. Around 10:50 a.m., a charter bus carrying about 30 nationals from Wangjing, home to Beijing's Koreatown, arrived. Citizens gathered in groups in front of a placard reading 'overseas citizens polling station,' holding passports while taking 'certification photos.'
A large bus carrying 37 Tianjin nationals drove for about three hours and arrived at the embassy's main gate around 11:30 a.m. Nationals who got off the bus underwent identity verification one by one before entering the embassy. It is estimated that more than 250 people completed voting at the embassy that morning.
University student Choi Seo-hee (20), casting her first vote in Beijing, said, "It feels amazing and nerve-wracking to have the right to vote," adding, "I believe that the rights of voters only have meaning when exercised correctly, so I applied for overseas voting with my parents and came here." She further noted, "Having been born and raised in China, I like both countries, but it's unfortunate to see the relations between them deteriorate," and added, "I hope for better relations." Choi's mother, Lee Hyun-cho (48), also expressed, "It's meaningful to participate in overseas voting for the first time with my daughter."
◇ About 25,000 nationals in China vote… Counting after sealing at the registered residence
A total of 25,154 people applied to vote in this presidential election across China. The highest number was from the Shanghai Consulate, with 8,892 people applying to vote, while 4,318 registered at the Beijing embassy. Nationals from Qingdao and Hong Kong Consulates are also expected to vote, with about 3,000 each.
For this election, the National Election Commission dispatched one overseas election official to Beijing, and the embassy also supported five personnel. The overseas election management committee is supporting the election with a chairperson and a vice-chairperson, while two representatives each from the Democratic Party of Korea and the People Power Party are observing and supporting the election. To encourage voting among citizens, shuttle buses operating from Beijing's Wangjing, Wudaokou, and Tianjin will be in service.
The voting process was similar to that of domestic early voting. Upon entering the polling station, valid identification such as a resident registration card, driver's license, or passport is presented to receive a ballot and a sealed envelope. After marking the ballot in the booth, it is placed in the envelope, sealed with tape, and deposited in the ballot box. The ballots will be sent to the relevant election management committee for counting.
◇ Fewer voters, but enthusiastic participation
The number of overseas voters from China is on a declining trend. According to the Korean Embassy in China, during the 2022 presidential election, the number of citizens in China reached 30,000, with 5,315 from Beijing applying to vote. This year, the number of applicants declined by 15% and 20%, respectively.
However, it has been reported that the voting rate is gradually increasing in relation to the number of voters. Stabilized Commissioner An Jeong-soo, who has led the overseas election committee since the first overseas election in 2012, noted, "Before COVID-19, the number of citizens reached 130,000, but now it's less than 10,000. The number of citizens is continuously decreasing," but added, "Nevertheless, the accessibility of polling places has improved, and with the support of the National Election Commission, shuttle buses have started operating, improving the voting environment, which is why I expect the turnout for this presidential election to be about 70%."
Housewife Choi Mo (55), participating in her fourth overseas vote this year, remarked, "Although the number of citizens has decreased significantly, the enthusiasm for participating in this presidential election seems better than during the last one." He noted, "In the past when I voted, due to COVID-19 restrictions, there were times when 50 nationals who took a large bus from Tianjin were unable to vote and had to turn back," and added, "In many ways, the voting environment has improved, and I believe participation will be enthusiastic."