From badminton courts to wedding halls: Unique polling stations in South Korea catch voters’ eyes

SEOUL - With just a day left before the 21st presidential election in South Korea, polling stations set up in unconventional locations – not the usual public schools and community centres – are drawing public interest.

According to Article 147 of the Public Official Election Act, polling stations are to be set up primarily at schools, district offices and community centres for the convenience of voters. However, if publicly owned spaces are not available, they can be hosted by private facilities.

During the parliamentary elections in April 2024

, some polling stations were set up at unique locations, such as wedding halls, wrestling facilities, restaurants and cafes.

For the June 3 presidential election, privately owned sports facilities such as an indoor badminton court in Gangnam-gu, southern Seoul, and a wrestling facility in Busan have been designated as polling stations.

Other unusual locations to cast a ballot include a cafe and a restaurant in Gangdong-gu, eastern Seoul, as well as a campground in Sunchang-gun, North Jeolla province, and a wedding hall in Pohang, North Gyeongsang province.

Once a polling station has been set up at a privately owned business, the venue is required to close two days before the election for the installation of voting booths and other necessary arrangements. These businesses may also choose to accept a small amount of compensation or a rental fee of several hundred thousand won from the National Election Commission.

A manager at the wedding hall in Pohang, which has been used as a polling station for more than 20 years, was quoted by Yonhap News Agency as saying that it provides the venue for free on polling day “for the convenience of nearby residents”.

Voting in the 21st presidential election will take place on June 3, from 6am to 8pm

, at 14,295 polling stations nationwide. Unlike in the early voting period on May 29 and 30, voters must cast their ballots at their designated polling stations.

About 260,000 people have been designated as voting officers, responsible for counting votes and managing polling stations across the country.

According to the Ministry of Interior and Safety, some 44.4 million South Korean voters, including 258,254 voters overseas, are eligible to vote in the upcoming election. THE KOREA HERALD/ASIA NEWS NETWORK