Voters on May 29, the first day of early voting for the June 3 local elections, line up to cast their ballots at a venue set up at the departure hall of Incheon International Airport's Terminal 2. (Yonhap News)

By Margareth Theresia

The number of foreign residents eligible to vote in the June 3 local elections has surpassed a record-high 150,000.

The National Election Commission (NEC) on May 23 released data saying 151,532 expats are eligible to vote in this year's elections, up 18.7% (23,909) from 127,623 in the 2022 edition. They account for 0.3% of the country's 44,649,908 voters.

Under election law, foreign residents aged 18 or older with permanent residency (F-5 visa) for at least three years can vote in local elections. They cannot vote, however, in the presidential or legislative elections, just in races for local governments and councils.

Those unable to vote on June 3 can do so earlier from May 29-30. Early voting is available at any designated polling place regardless of a voter's address with an acceptable form of identification.

margareth@korea.kr