S. Koreans head to polls in local by-elections

South Koreans began heading to the polls for Wednesday's local by-elections.

Voting kicked off at 6 AM, and will close at 8 PM.

Up for grabs, are 23 seats, including Busan's superintendent of education, the head of Seoul's Guro District Office, as well as mayors for Asan, Gimcheon in Gyeongsangbuk-do Province and Geoje in Gyeongsangnam-do Province.

According to the National Election Commission, early turnout on March 28th and 29th came to seven-point-nine-four percent.

Pundits say the by-elections are unlikely to serve as a reliable barometer of voter sentiment ahead of the upcoming impeachment verdict for President Yoon Suk Yeol.