21 총선 투표율 오전 9시 현재 8.0% , 지난 총선보다 0.9%p 높아<br /><br />And now we take things to the National Election Commission,… for more on how the voting process is faring on this election day.<br />For that we go live to our Lee Kyung-eun, standing by at the NEC for the voter turnout, just four-hours-into election.<br />Kyung-eun, what's the latest?<br />Much attention is on the voter turnout because the election is being held amid the coronavirus outbreak.<br />And here, the National Election Commission will be keeping track of the numbers on a real-time basis.<br />As of 9 am, the turnout is at 8 percent.<br />That's about point-9 percentage points higher than at the same time in the previous election in 2016.<br />The southeastern city of Daegu is a key area of attention because it was hit hardest by COVID-19 in South Korea.<br />Daegu's turnout has traditionally been low, and its figure was the country's lowest in the previous election.<br />But interestingly, it is seeing the highest participation with 8-point-nine percent.<br />It seems like COVID-19 has further drawn people closer to politics, not away from it.<br />The polling stations will close at 6 PM, but the official final results will not be announced until very late at night.<br />And the total number of voters is expected to see a notable jump at 1 PM as early voter turnout will be incorporated in these figures.<br />In all five previous general elections, only once, in 2002, has the country seen a turnout of over 60 percent.<br />And this year, despite concerns over the outbreak, the early voter turnout hit a record high of 26.7 percent.<br />I will keep you updated on how the numbers develop throughout the day.<br />
