South Koreans Begin Early Voting In Presidential Poll
Early voting in South Korea's presidential elections kicked off on Thursday, with both main candidates set to cast ballots in a poll triggered by ex-leader Yoon Suk Yeol's ill-fated effort to suspend civilian rule last year.
All major polls have placed liberal Lee Jae-myung as the clear frontrunner in the presidential race, with a recent Gallup survey showing 49 percent of respondents viewed him as the best candidate.
Trailing behind him is conservative ex-labour minister Kim Moon-soo of the ruling People Power Party -- Yoon's former party -- at 35 percent.
While election day is set for June 3, those who want to vote early can do so on Thursday and Friday -- part of an initiative introduce in 2013 to help those unable to cast ballots on polling day or planning to travel.
South Koreans have in recent years turned out in larger and larger numbers for early voting, with 37 percent casting their ballots ahead of polling day in the 2022 presidential election.
Voting began at 6:00 am (2100 GMT Wednesday) for twelve hours, taking place again on Friday.
According to the National Election Commission, as of 9:00 am (0000 GMT) the early voting turnout rate was 3.55 percent, the highest record yet for that time in South Korean election history.
Lee, of the Democratic Party, is expected to vote in the capital Seoul on Thursday morning.
"Some say power comes from the barrel of a gun, but I believe a vote is more powerful than a bullet," he told a rally on Wednesday.
According to a Gallup poll, more than half of Lee's supporters said they planned to vote early, compared to just 16 percent of Kim's supporters.
Kim has said he will cast his vote in Incheon, west of Seoul, with his campaign framing it as "the beginning of a dramatic turnaround", a nod to General Douglas MacArthur's landing there during the Korean War.
Kim's decision to vote early has surprised many on the right, where conspiracy theories about electoral fraud -- particularly during early voting -- are rife.
The 73-year-old however reassured his supporters that there is "nothing to worry about."
"If you hesitate to vote early and end up missing the main election, it would be a major loss," said Kim on Wednesday.
"Our party will mobilise all its resources to ensure strict monitoring and oversight of early voting," he said.
"So please don't worry and take part in it," he said.
Conservative candidate Kim shot to public attention in the aftermath of Yoon's martial law debacle, when he declined to bow in apology to the public for failing to prevent the suspension of civilian rule.
In contrast, lawyer-turned-politician Lee played a central role in stopping the push to suspect civilian rule, live-streaming his frantic drive to parliament and his scramble over the perimeter fence as he and other lawmakers raced to vote down the decree.
He has since vowed to "bring insurrection elements to justice" if elected president. All major polls have placed liberal Lee Jae-myung as the clear frontrunner in the presidential race AFP A man reacts as supporters of South Korean presidential candidate Kim Moon Soo of the People Power Party gather ahead of a televised presidential debate for the forthcoming June 3 presidential election outside the MBC media center in Seoul on May 27, 2025. AFP
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Int'l Business Times
13 hours ago
- Int'l Business Times
South Koreans Vote Early In Record Numbers In Poll Triggered By Martial Law
South Koreans queued in long lines in record numbers to choose their next president on Friday, the second day of early voting in a poll triggered by ex-leader Yoon Suk Yeol's disastrous martial law declaration. The country is battling to draw a line under months of political turmoil sparked by Yoon's suspension of civilian rule, for which he was impeached and stripped of office. Since then the Asian democracy has been led by a revolving door of lame duck acting presidents as its export-driven economy grapples with trade turmoil abroad and sluggish demand at home. All major polls have placed liberal Lee Jae-myung as the clear front-runner in the presidential race, with a recent Gallup survey showing 49 percent of respondents viewed him as the best candidate. Trailing behind him is conservative ex-labour minister Kim Moon-soo of the ruling People Power Party -- Yoon's former party -- at 35 percent. While election day is set for June 3, those who want to vote early are allowed to do so on Thursday and Friday. As of 8:00 am on Friday (2300 GMT Thursday), a record 21 percent had voted out of 44.4 million registered voters, Seoul's National Election Commission said. Overseas voting in particular reached a historic high, with four out of five of the 1.97 million eligible voters casting their ballots last week. Whoever succeeds Yoon will have to grapple with a deepening economic downturn, some of the world's lowest birth rates and a soaring cost of living. He will also have to navigate a mounting superpower standoff between the United States, South Korea's traditional security guarantor, and China, its largest trade partner. But analysts see martial law as the defining issue in the presidential race. Kang Joo-hyun, a political science professor at Sookmyung Women's University, told AFP the high turnout "naturally reflects the public's strong desire to restore democracy in South Korea". "Overseas Koreans... more than ever, felt compelled to make their voices heard through the ballot, driven by a sense that the very foundations of South Korea's democracy were being shaken," said Kang. Lee lost his 2022 bid for the presidency to Yoon by one of the smallest margins in South Korean history, with one of the main debates becoming gender issues. The former school dropout rose to political stardom partly by highlighting his humble beginnings. He has vowed to "bring insurrection elements to justice" if elected president. Seoul National University political science professor Kang Won-taek warned, however, that South Korea's political woes were far from over. "There is a real possibility that the political turmoil and crises we've seen could re-emerge," said Kang. Lee, the frontrunner, has been a "central figure in the polarisation that has fuelled much of the country's political instability", he said. "Unless he adopts a markedly more inclusive approach to governance, there's a strong chance that past conflicts will resurface." All major polls have placed liberal Lee Jae-myung as the clear front-runner in the presidential race AFP Seoul National University political science professor Kang Won-taek warned, however, that South Korea's political woes were far from over AFP
DW
a day ago
- DW
South Korea's foreign policy battles wait for new president – DW – 05/28/2025
Millions of South Koreans will vote for a new president next week, as Seoul deals with a mercurial US, faces the rising power of China and an aggressive North Korea and negotiates always delicate ties with Japan. With South Koreans due to vote for a new president in the first week of June, analysts warn that the winner of the vote will immediately face challenges in the international arena from friends and rivals alike. Seoul is already under pressure on trade and security issues from the US administration of President Donald Trump, its most important ally against the regime in North Korea. At the same time, South Korea aims to keep essential trade ties with US rival China. Furthermore, its relations with another regional player — Japan — could show cracks depending on the outcome of the vote. Most recent polls put Democratic Party (DP) candidate Lee Jae-Myung in favor with 49.2% of voters, significantly ahead of his People Power Party (PPP) rival Kim Moon-soo, at 36.8%. The PPP party's image has been tarnished by now-impeached President Yoon Suk Yeol who is on trial over his attempt to impose martial law in December. Impeached South Korean president arrested To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video Kim has been narrowing the gap, however, and a third party, the conservative New Reform Party, currently boasts 10.3% support, possibly giving it a say in the make-up of the new government. "The winner is going to face a lot of big issues very quickly," said Choo Jae-woo, a professor of foreign policy at Kyung Hee University in Seoul. "My feeling is that the incoming president will have to first of all engage with Trump and hope to take the rest of his policies from there," he told DW. "For Korea, the most serious worry is the tariffs on exports to the US and the changing role of the military alliance, including the US forces in Korea." Dealing with an 'incoherent' US Seoul is in talks with Washington on trade and there have been suggestions that a deal could be within reach, although it is not clear whether all tariffs will be lifted. The question of US troops stationed in South Korea is even more delicate, with reports in recent weeks suggesting that the Pentagon is considering withdrawing more than 4,000 troops from the present 28,000 stationed. The US has played down the reports — but Trump has repeatedly threatened to pull troops out unless Seoul paid more for their presence. Removing any troops from the peninsula would hand a strategic win for both North Korea and China, Choo said. Dan Pinkston, a professor of international relations at the Seoul campus of Troy University, said Seoul is struggling to manage the "incoherent" decisions that are emerging from Washington on trade and security matters. "Whoever comes in has to find a way to manage those relationships with the US and return to some sort of predictability or stability as they are all over the place at the moment and that makes planning and moving forward impossible," he said. The threat from the North North Korea will also be a major concern for a new administration, after President Yoon's government decided to effectively ignore Pyongyang and halt most efforts to communicate with Kim Jong Un. During Yoon's tenure, Pyongyang forged an alliance with Russia that saw North Korean troops deploy in Russia and Ukraine. Moscow allegedly returned the favor by giving North Korea fuel and military technology that was previously beyond its reach due to UN sanctions. Why Russia and North Korea can't quit each other (for now) To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video Bolstered by the alliance with Moscow, Kim Jong Un has now severed all communications with the South and constructed additional defenses on the already heavily fortified border. "If Lee wins, I am sure he will try to reset ties with the North, but it takes two to tango, and I think it is very unlikely that Kim will do anything to reciprocate," said Pinkston. "Those bridges have been burned. Lee will try, but it will be very difficult." Choo agrees that Kim will continue to give the South "the cold shoulder" because Seoul is perceived as an ally of the US and still hostile to the North. Consideration for China Relations with Beijing are also tense, despite China being South Korea's top trading partner. Last year, China imported around $133 billion (€117.3 billion) of South Korean goods, or 19.5% of South Korea's total exports, edging out the US with $128.4 and 18.8%. But Choo points out that Seoul and Beijing are currently bickering over an old oil rig that China has placed within disputed waters in the Yellow Sea. China claims the facility is part of a fishing project, which is permitted under an existing bilateral agreement, but South Korea fears it is being used to encroach further into the disputed waters and enforce Beijing's claims to more sea territory. "It is delicate and will put the president in a dilemma because Chinese Premier Xi Jinping is expected to attend the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Forum that South Korea is hosting in Gyeongju later this year," Choo pointed out. US-China tensions test ties between ASEAN members To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video "The new government will not want to stir up anti-Chinese sentiment out of concern that Xi might cancel his attendance at the summit," he said. "The new president will on this issue as well be walking a very fine line." And then there is Japan Japan and South Korea enjoyed a relatively calm and forward-looking relationship with Yoon, in complete contrast to his predecessor, Moon Jae-in from the Democratic Party. "Traditionally, the Democratic Party has favored China and North Korea and has often been anti-Japanese and sometimes even anti-US in its policies," said Cha Mok-won, who is studying Korean-Japanese politics at Ritsumeikan University in Kyoto and will be voting on June 3. As the current campaigns draw to a close, there is a strong possibility that Lee Jae-Myung, also from the Democratic Party, become the next president. Tokyo is concerned that ties will once again begin to deteriorate under Lee, especially if the new administration focuses on still painful history of Japan's colonial rule and wartime atrocities. Seoul-based professor Choo notes that one of the new president's first major speeches will fall on August 15, the anniversary of Korea's liberation at the end of WWII. "If the new president is 'thorny' in his first speech, that will set the tone for the rest of his administration," said Choo. Edited by: Darko Janjevic
Int'l Business Times
a day ago
- Int'l Business Times
Lee Jae-myung's Rise From Poverty To Brink Of South Korean Presidency
Lawsuits, scandals, armed troops and a knife-wielding attacker all failed to deter Lee Jae-myung's ascendancy from sweatshop worker to the cusp of South Korea's presidency. After losing by a gossamer thin margin in 2022, the Democratic Party candidate has returned to the ballot, and is now poised to replace the political rival he was instrumental in unseating. Opponents decry Lee, 60, for his populist style. But his rags-to-riches personal story sets him apart from many of South Korea's political elite. After dropping out of school to work at a factory to support his family, he suffered a disabling elbow injury in an industrial accident. He earned a scholarship to study law and passed the bar to become an attorney. Lee has used this origin story to cultivate a loyal support base and frame himself as understanding the struggles of the underprivileged. "You can worry about people outside shivering in the cold while you sit in your warm living room," Lee told AFP in a 2022 interview. "But you can never really understand their pain." Polls suggest the margin between Lee and his closest challenger, conservative Kim Moon-soo of the People Power Party, has narrowed in recent days, with some showing a single-digit margin. But Lee has consistently maintained his lead since the race was triggered by the impeachment of former president Yoon Suk Yeol over his brief declaration of martial law in December. South Korea has experienced a leadership vacuum since lawmakers suspended Yoon for deploying armed troops to parliament in his failed attempt to suspend civilian rule. During the tense minutes following that move, Lee live-streamed his frantic scramble over the perimeter fence as he and other lawmakers rushed to vote down the martial law decree. "It was a race against time," he recalled in an interview with AFP. Lee previously served as mayor of Seongnam, south of Seoul, for eight years. In that role, he helped shut down what had been the country's largest dog meat market -- ending a trade that had once involved 80,000 canines a year. He later served as governor of Gyeonggi Province -- the country's most-populous region surrounding the capital -- for more than three years. Lee lost his 2022 bid for the presidency to Yoon by one of the smallest margins in South Korean history. And in 2024 he was stabbed in the neck by a man posing as a supporter and was airlifted to hospital for emergency surgery. The attacker later confessed that his intention was to kill Lee to prevent him from becoming president. If elected next week, Lee has vowed, among other things, to boost South Korea's artificial intelligence industry, with the goal of making the country one of the top three global leaders in the field. He has also called for holding those involved in the martial law attempt accountable -- promising to "bring insurrection elements to justice". During his early days in politics, Lee drew criticism for his confrontational attacks on political opponents. But Kim Hye-kyung, his wife of 34 years with whom he shares two children, insists Lee speaks with "deliberation". "He's someone who's come up from the margins, from the very bottom," she said in a 2017 interview. "Just like how a flea has to jump to be noticed, I hope people can understand and view him in that context." Lee has been dogged by legal troubles of his own, including allegations of corruption tied to a real estate development and violations of election law through the dissemination of false information. He has denied any wrongdoing, insisting the charges are politically motivated. In early May, Seoul's Supreme Court overturned a lower court's acquittal of Lee on election law charges and ordered a retrial. But with the election looming, the Seoul High Court postponed the proceedings until after the June 3 vote. If Lee wins, legal experts say the proceedings would be suspended due to presidential immunity, and would only resume after his single five-year term ends in 2030. Lee's opponents argue the charges are serious enough to disqualify him from running. "With these kinds of corruption allegations, how can you seek public office?" Kim Moon-soo, his main opponent in next week's vote, said during a televised debate on Friday.
