21 총선 투표율 오후 5시 현재 59.7% , 지난 총선보다 9.5%p 높아

And now we head over to the National Election Commission.
Our Lee Kyung-eun is standing by to tell us more about the voting process and the voter turnout so far.
Kyung-eun, what's the latest?
Devin, we are inching closer to the final voter turnout.
The National Election Commission here has been keeping track of the numbers in real time.
As of 4 PM, the figure is at 59.7 percent.
That's around NINE-point-FIVE percentage points HIGHER than at the same time from the previous election...and well above the FINAL turnout of that election.
That's largely attributed to the early voter turnout which has been included as of 1 PM.
Despite concerns due to the COVID-19 outbreak, this year's early voter turnout hit a record high of 26.7 percent.
Right now, Jeollanam-do Province has the highest turnout with over SIXTY THREE-point-TWO percent.
It also experienced the highest participation for early voting last weekend.
But much attention is also on the southeastern city of Daegu the city hit hardest by COVID-19 in South Korea.
Traditionally, Daegu's turnouts were among the country's lowest.
But this year, the city is seeing some unprecedented developments, including clinching top spot briefly this morning.
It seems like COVID-19 has drawn people closer to politics, not pushed them away from it.
The polling stations will close at 6 PM, but the official final results will not be announced until very late this evening.
In all five previous general elections, only once, in TWO-THOUSAND-AND-FOUR, has the country seen a turnout of over 60 percent.
But based on the current trend, this year's final turnout could easily surpass that milestone.
Devin.