Who voted?

by javabeans

Actor Song Il Kook

 
Or perhaps the question should be: Who’s getting attention for voting?

On the 19th (yesterday in Korea if we’re going by the time difference), Korea held its presidential elections. (Psst. Lee Myung-bak won.)

As for voting — turnout was low, but that didn’t stop the celebrities from showing up to exercise their civic duty. As with anything, people are much more interested when a famous person does it! (God I feel shallow).

Some highlights:

Lee Young Ae: The A-list actress got up early to cast her vote at 6:50am: “I’m a morning person.”

Actress Kim Hee Sun arrived at 4pm in Kangnam to vote quickly and speed away; her husband voted at a different station, since the newlywed couple’s marriage registration paperwork isn’t complete yet.

SONG OF THE DAY

TA Copy – “Glory Days” [ zShare download ]

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Kim Myung Min, Moon Geun Young

Young stars, particularly 1988’ers who just became of legal age to vote, were of especial note.

A-list star and university student Moon Geun Young was one such first-timer: “My first vote! I’ve become an adult.”

Other first-timers include young stars Lee Yeon Hee, Jung Il Woo, Jang Geun Seok, Super Junior’s Kyu Hyun, Big Bang’s G-Dragon, CSJH the Grace’s Sunday. The young stars expressed their desire to participate now that they’re legal: “However busy our schedules are, we think it’s important to participate and exercise our rights, and came to vote.”

The Wonder Girls’ Yoobin made room in her busy schedule to vote early, arriving at her polling location at 6:10am. Singer Younha said, “I was excited and nervous to participate for the first time.”

The members of Dong Bang Shin Ki, who’d been abroad in Thailand for a concert on the 17th, flew back home to participate as first-time voters.

Wonder Girl Yoobin, Baby Vox Rev’s Yang Eunji

Super Junior Kyu Hyun, Misuda panelist Larissa

Pop singers JYP, Park Hyun Bin

Spouses Park Jin Young (above left) and Yoon Tae Young kept mum about their vote selections. Uber-producer and pop-tart svengali JYP shook hands briefly and exchanged greetings with others at his location after casting his vote, and left with his wife a few minutes afterward. When asked if the couple voted similarly, they answered, “That’s a secret.”

Lee Jung Jae arrived at the wrong polling station, showing up first at a location in Cheongdam, and dashing off to find his correct location. However, because of the excess of crowding he wasn’t able to vote, settling for assuaging his voting disappointments by signing autographs for voters.

Meanwhile, although she’s not a 1988’er, it was also a first-time voting experience for Han Ye Seul, who’s lived most of her pre-acting life in the States. She gained Korean citizenship three years ago, and explained, “I don’t know much about politics, so the choice was difficult for me. But I thought voting is something I should do.”

Ahh, the uninformed voter. My favorite.

Younha, Kim Jang Hoon

Ballad singer Jo Sung Mo, comedienne Park Kyung Lim

Via No Cut News, Go News, Sports Seoul