Early voting for the South Korea presidential election began on Thursday as the nation seeks to end months of political turmoil. This election follows last year’s suspension of civilian rule by former President Yoon Suk Yeol, which led to his impeachment. Many South Koreans view this election as a crucial step toward restoring stability.
Liberal candidate Lee Jae-myung is at the top of all the major polls, with conservatives lagging behind. Early voting has already broken previous records, highlighting a deep public interest in determining the future direction of the country.
Political Upheaval and Voter Attitudes
Since Yoon Suk Yeol declared martial law, South Koreans have been living through a period of unrest. His impeachment was facilitated by this action, which also resulted in a string of acting presidents leading the country.
The nation’s export-driven economy is currently struggling with weak domestic demand and disruptions in international trade. Voters view this election as a means to reboot and restore political normalcy in the nation.
Solid Front-Runner: Lee Jae-Myung
All key polls place Lee Jae-Myung in the lead. According to a Gallup poll conducted last week, he had 49 percent of support. He is the representative of the Democratic Party and has promised to reinstate civilian rule and prosecute those who attempted to suspend it. Lee voted early on Thursday and stated, “A vote is more powerful than a bullet.”
Behind Lee is Kim Moon-soo, a right-wing former labor minister and Yoon’s old party, the People Power Party, candidate. He has 35 percent backing, polls show. He also voted early, leaving many conservatives surprised amidst widespread fear of fraud during early voting. Kim told his supporters not to fret and vote early, labeling it as a “dramatic turnaround.”
By Thursday at noon, early voting was 8.7 percent—the highest ever at that time in a South Korean election. Foreign voters also participated enthusiastically, with four-fifths of 1.97 million eligible voters casting their ballots. Experts believe this high turnout indicates that people have an immediate desire to defend democracy following the recent crisis.
Challenges Ahead for the Next President
Whomever prevails on June 3 has enormous challenges ahead. South Korea is battling a worsening economic downturn, one of the lowest birth rates in the world, and rising living costs. The complex rivalry between China, South Korea’s biggest trading partner, and the United States, its most significant security ally, must be handled by the next president.
The early voting period suggests that the public is actively demanding change. The election will also test South Korea’s democracy’s strength and ability to move forward following a turbulent year.
