Voting is underway in mayoral elections of South Korea's two main cities. The races are widely seen as an important precursor to next year's presidential election.
Voting in the by-elections began at 6 a.m. on Wednesday in the capital Seoul and the second-largest city of Busan.
In Seoul, 12 candidates are running. The country's governing Democratic Party is fielding former cabinet minister Park Young-sun, while the largest opposition People Power Party is backing former Seoul mayor Oh Se-hoon.
Contenders from the two parties are also running in Busan.
The country's election committee says voter turnout as of 5 p.m. was 49.7 percent in Seoul and 44.6 percent in Busan.
Both figures are lower than those in mayoral elections three years ago.
Polling places are to close at 8 p.m., after which people in coronavirus quarantine are to cast ballots, with vote-counting starting immediately thereafter.