Voters in Gangwon-do began the second day of early voting on June 2, 2024, for the provincial governor election [1].
The race features a high-profile contest between incumbent Governor Kim Jin-tae and Woo Sang-ho, a four-term National Assembly member and former political affairs chief [1, 2]. The outcome will determine the leadership of the province as part of South Korea's broader 2024 local elections [1, 2].
Early voting is taking place at 192 sites across the province to accommodate the electorate [1]. There are 1,329,000 eligible voters in Gangwon-do [1].
As of 8:00 KST on the second day of pre-voting, the turnout rate stood at 15.55% [1]. Officials said they are monitoring these figures against historical data to gauge voter engagement. In the 2018 local election, early-voting turnout in Gangwon-do reached 25.2% [1].
That 2018 provincial figure was higher than the national average early-voting turnout of 20.62% recorded during the same election cycle [1]. Local observers said they expect the final turnout for the current cycle to potentially reach record highs as the voting period concludes.
Voting centers in Chuncheon and other regional hubs reported smooth operations during the morning hours [1, 2]. The process allows eligible citizens to cast their ballots before the official election day to ensure maximum participation across the rugged terrain of the province.
“Early-voting turnout at 08:00 KST on the second day stood at 15.55%.”
The Gangwon-do governor's race serves as a critical bellwether for regional political sentiment in South Korea. By comparing current early-voting trends to the 2018 figures, analysts can determine if voter mobilization is increasing or decreasing. A record-high turnout would suggest a highly polarized or energized electorate, potentially signaling a shift in the province's political alignment or a strong mandate for the incumbent.
