Coast guard mobilizes to ferry ballots from remote islands for local elections

By Kim A-rin, The Herald Business

The Korean Coast Guard is launching a ballot transport operation for island communities ahead of the ninth nationwide local elections, set for Wednesday.

The Korea Coast Guard Agency said Monday it will deploy 39 patrol vessels on election day to collect and escort 149 ballot boxes from 93 island communities, including Yeonpyeongdo in Incheon. The agency also transported early voting ballot boxes and absentee mail ballots from the islands to the mainland on May 30, the final day of early voting.

The coast guard said it had completed preparatory work ahead of the operation, including advance surveys of shipping routes and the designation of a responsible vessel for each route. The agency said it plans to strengthen maritime security during the election period and maintain emergency mobilization and rapid-response readiness against any unforeseen incidents.

"We will spare no effort to ensure that every precious vote cast by island residents arrives safely on the mainland before ballot transport is complete," acting Korea Coast Guard Agency chief Jang In-sik said. "We will do our utmost to fully guarantee the people's right to political participation."