SEOUL, Oct. 28 (Yonhap) -- Voter turnout for Wednesday's by-elections stood at 8.6 percent as of 9 a.m., lower than the figure at the same hour in the previous race, the election watchdog's said.
About 17,000 out of 864,860 eligible voters have cast ballots since the polls opened at 6 a.m., lower than 9.5 percent during the 2008 by-elections.
The National Election Commission predicted a mid-30 percent turnout, citing public concern at the quickly spreading flu virus.
The voting booths at 290 polling stations close at 8 p.m.
Only five seats of the National Assembly are up for grabs, but the by-elections have been likened to a vote of confidence for President Lee Myung-bak and the ruling Grand National Party (GNP) as the constituencies are spread throughout the nation. The race is also a barometer ahead of local elections next year.
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