S.Korean voters head to the polls under strict safety measures amid pandemic

Source:AFP Published: 2020/4/15 19:28:40

South Koreans head to polls despite global pandemic


South Korean voters turned out in force Wednesday despite the coronavirus threat, putting on compulsory face masks and gloves to cast their ballots in a parliamentary election. 

South Korean soldiers wearing protective gear spray disinfectant on the street to help prevent the spread of the COVID-19, at Gangnam district in Seoul on Thursday. Photo: AFP

South Korea was among the first countries with a major virus outbreak to hold a national vote since the global pandemic began, and a raft of safety measures were in place around the polls. 

The parliamentary election - widely expected to bolster the ruling Democratic party's position - kicked off with 43.9 million voters eligible to cast ballots. 

Voters in obligatory masks lined up at least one meter apart outside polling stations and had their temperatures checked before being allowed in. 

All had to clean their hands with sanitizer and don plastic gloves, while those with fevers cast their ballots in separate booths that were disinfected after each use. 

"It is done very well," said 80-year-old voter Kim Gwang-woo. "Because of the coronavirus, people are keeping their distance and everyone is wearing gloves." 

For a time, the country had the world's second-largest outbreak, before it was largely brought under control through widespread testing and a contact-tracing drive, along with widely observed social distancing. 

Those self-quarantining at home will be allowed to vote immediately after the polls 6:00 pm close, as long as they do not show virus symptoms, and must return to their residences by 7:00 pm. 

Special polling stations were set up at eight central quarantine facilities at the weekend to enable the confined to vote. But anyone who is staying at home and has developed symptoms is effectively disenfranchised. 

Many turned to online media such as YouTube and Instagram to connect with voters, while some even volunteered to disinfect parts of their constituencies. 

A survey conducted by Gallup Korea showed that 27 percent of respondents were reluctant to vote due to the epidemic. But 72 percent said they were not worried.



Posted in: ASIA-PACIFIC

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