Eve of by-elections

South Korea will hold by-elections on Wednesday in 23 constituencies nationwide, with the results to serve as a key indicator of public sentiment ahead of Friday's Constitutional Court ruling on President Yoon Suk Yeol's impeachment.

Voters will elect a regional education chief in Busan, five heads of local municipal and district governments and 17 of local council members. Among the posts to be filled is that of the mayor for Seoul's western district of Guro-gu. The office became vacant in October when former Mayor Moon Heon-il from the ruling People Power Party resigned, refusing to comply with the obligation to set up a blind trust for his stock holdings, worth approximately 17 billion won ($11.6 million) at that time.

Polling stations are open from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. As of Tuesday, about 7.9 percent of eligible voters in the constituencies have already cast their vote in advance.