Although there have been long lines of voters at several polling stations in the capital Seoul, unlike in the past, votes earlier this year are held entirely on weekdays, Yonghap News reported.
Early voting began at 3,568 polling stations nationwide as voters prepare to elect former president Yoon Seok Yeol for a five-year term.
Yeoul was banished in December for his abortion attempt to invoke martial law.
According to the National Election Commission (NEC), the two-day early voting period will end at 6pm on Friday (0900GMT).
Currently, six candidates are competing for the country’s top office, but the actual contest is between two candidates.
In the latest poll released Wednesday, Democratic candidate Lee Jae-Myung led 49.2%, followed by Kim Moon-Soo of the 36.8% ruler People Power Party.
The new Reform Party’s Lee Junsek is third at 10.3%.
DP Lee will vote in Shincheon, western Seoul on Thursday, with Kim scheduled to vote in Incheon’s Giyang district during the suspension of the campaign.
The presidential election is scheduled for June 3rd.
rhm/