Minister of the Interior and Safety Yoon Ho-jung inspected an early voting station on the 28th, a day before the June 3 local elections' early voting.
The Minister visited the early voting station at the Sajik-dong community service center in Jongno-gu, Seoul, that day. The Minister checked the status of preparations for voting and reviewed the progress of a mock test.
The Minister personally checked the movement route by which voters enter the polling place, complete marking and voting, and then exit. The Minister also focused on inspecting the installation status of accessibility facilities for people with limited mobility, such as elevators and ramps. Fire safety measures to prevent safety accidents such as leakage or fires caused by power overload were also reviewed.
In addition, the Minister observed a mock test conducted in the same environment as actual early voting and checked the operating status of voting equipment, including ID verification and ballot issuance. The Minister then identified any abnormalities in the voting booths and ballot boxes and conducted a detailed inspection for the presence of illegal cameras.
The government plans to work with police and fire authorities to prepare for various incidents and accidents. Before inspecting the early voting station, the Minister visited the Jongno Police Station and checked plans to strengthen security and patrols against illegal demonstrations, disturbances, and arson at early voting stations on the day, as well as fire safety measures.
The Korean National Police Agency and the National Fire Agency will draw up and implement measures to ensure the safety of polling and counting stations until ballot counting is fully completed. The Korean National Police Agency will operate a 24-hour integrated election security situation room at police agencies nationwide to manage security at polling and counting stations and the transport of ballot boxes. The National Fire Agency is establishing a fire response system and is focusing on removing fire hazards in early voting stations nationwide in advance.
The Minister said, "To ensure that people can visit polling places with confidence, we are strengthening security and patrols around early voting stations against risks such as illegal demonstrations, arson, and violence, and we are doing our best in fire safety management," and added, "Because participation in voting is the start of changing a region's future, we ask people who will find it difficult to vote on Election Day to take part in early voting."
Meanwhile, early voting for this election will be held for two days from the 29th to the 30th at 3,571 polling places set up in towns, townships, and neighborhoods nationwide. Early voting is a system that allows people who will find it difficult to vote on June 3, the main voting day, to vote in advance anywhere nationwide with only an ID.