Apr 15, 2020 - World

In photos: South Korea's ruling party wins in landslide amid outbreak

Orion Rummler

In this image, two men shake hands in front of a stage — Lee Nak-yon (center R), South Korea's former prime minister and candidate of the ruling Democratic Party, shakes hands with Lee Hae-chan (center L), chairman of the ruling Democratic Party, at the National Assembly in Seoul on Wednesday. Photo: Jung Yeon-Je/AFP via Getty Images

South Korean President Moon Jae-in's left-leaning ruling party won the largest majority of seats in 30 years in parliamentary elections on Wednesday, per the New York Times.

The big picture: The country's election marked the first national poll held worldwide since the novel coronavirus was declared a pandemic. Voters casting ballots in-person were required to wear face masks and have their temperatures checked, following record-high early voting participation, AP reports.

Over 10,500 people have contracted the virus as of Wednesday, per Johns Hopkins data. Over 7,600 people have recovered and 225 people have died.

In this image, rows of people sort through papers on long tables — South Korean election officials sort voting papers for ballot counting in a Seoul gymnasium. Photo: Jung Yeon-Je/AFP via Getty Images

In this image, a woman has her temperature checked while waiting in line to vote — A woman has her temperature checked upon his arrival to cast her vote in Seoul. Photo: Chung Sung-Jun/Getty Images

In this image, a man wears a suit and does a peace sign with both hands — Defector and former North Korean diplomat Thae Yong Ho secures a majority vote in his Gangnam constituency on behalf of the conservative United Future Party (UFP). Photo: Ed Jones/AFP via Getty Images

In this image, voters wait in line in a gym — South Korean citizens cast their votes in a polling station in Seoul. Photo: Jong Hyun Kim/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images

In this image, a man in hazmat gear stands in a clear plastic tent — An official stands in a voting booth for people in self-quarantine. Photo: Ed Jones/AFP via Getty Images

In this image, a woman walks past a laptop showing thermal infared images — Voters wait in line in Seoul. Photo: Chung Sung-Jun/Getty Images

IN this image, rows of masked officials sit — Lee Nak-yon (C front), South Korea's former prime minister and candidate of the ruling Democratic Party, and his party members watch televisions showing exit polls in Seoul. Photo: Jung Yeon-Je/AFP via Getty Images

In this image, people stand socially distance in line outside — Voters wait in line at a polling station in Uiwang, South Korea. Photo: Simon Shin/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images

In this image, a woman wearing a face mask and a puffy red coat stands at the front of a line in a long white hall — Voters wait in line at a polling station in Seoul. Photo: Ed Jones/AFP via Getty Images

In this image, voters are at a polling place in a gym — South Koreans cast their ballots in Seoul. Photo: Jung Yeon-je/AFP via Getty Images

Go deeper: Countries grapple with how to hold elections during coronavirus