제21대 국회의원선거 투표 시작…'코로나19 전파 가능성 차단한다'<br /><br />There's less than an hour left until the polls close in South Korea's twenty-first general election.<br />Special quarantine measures have been taken at the polling stations, of course, because of COVID-19, and the authorities are making sure that even people in quarantine can vote.<br />For more on the process, we have our Kan Hyeong-woo standing by at a polling station in central Seoul.<br />Hyeong-woo, fill us in.<br />Devin, so South Korean voters began casting their ballots at 6 this morning.<br />And yes, the polling stations will close at 6 PM for ordinary voters who are not in self-quarantine.<br />Because there are still new cases of the coronavirus here and there,... the National Election Commission has taken a number of preventive measures.<br />Voters have to bring their ID cards, of course,... but they also have to wear a protective face mask when they go in.<br />At the entrance, they get their temperatures taken.<br />If they don't have a fever or a cough, they have to disinfect their hands with hand sanitizer and put on disposable latex gloves both of which are provided by the polling station they visit.<br />Voters are also required to stand at least one meter apart from each other at all times.<br />I asked some voters how they feel about voting in these conditions.<br />"It's my first time voting like this. But I feel clean. I think a lot of people like it this way and I hope they continue to doing it like this."<br />"I think it's a good idea to carry on with the election. It looks like everything is going well as people are wearing masks, gloves and keeping the right distance from each other."<br />Anyone showing respiratory symptoms or a temperature higher than 37-point-5 degrees Celsius will be escorted to a separate area to vote.<br />And what about those in self-quarantine?<br />The National Election Commission has made it possible for them to cast their ballots.<br />How's that going to work?<br />That's right, Devin. The election authorities are allowing people in self-quarantine to vote.<br />There are almost 60-thousand eligible voters in self-isolation.<br />According to the Ministry of the Interior and Safety,... around 23 percent of them some 13-thousand people have applied to take part.<br />Now, these are the rules:<br />The quarantine will be temporarily lifted from 5:20 PM to 7 PM.<br />Only then can those in self-quarantine head straight to polling stations on foot or in their own cars.<br />Their voting period is from 6 to 7 PM after the other voters are finished.<br />Most of those under quarantine will be accompanied by government officials.<br />But those who aren't... will be tracked through a mobile app.<br />And of course, they must wear face masks.<br />Given that the self-quarantined voters will cast their ballots after 6 PM,... the exit poll will be released at 6:15 PM.<br />That's all I have at this hour. Back to you. Devin.<br />
