South Koreans headed to the polls on Tuesday to select a new president, marking the end of six months of political turmoil that followed former President Yoon Suk Yeol’s controversial martial law declaration.
Early birds began arriving at a polling place in Seoul’s Munrae-dong neighborhood at 6:00 AM to submit their votes.
“We were the first here, hoping our candidate wins, as the presidential election is crucial,” 80-year-old Yu Bun-dol told AFP, noting she supports the conservative People Power Party (PPP) candidate.
Millions have already voted in this snap election, with over one-third of registered voters participating in early voting days last week, according to the National Election Commission.
Polling results consistently show liberal candidate Lee Jae-myung in the lead, with a recent Gallup poll indicating that 49% of voters consider him the top option.
Kim Moon-soo, representing the conservative PPP—Yoon’s former party—follows with 35% support.
The aftermath of the martial law declaration, which left South Korea without effective leadership during the early months of U.S. President Donald Trump’s second term, is a significant concern for voters, experts assert.
“Polls indicate that the election is perceived largely as a referendum on the previous government,” stated Kang Joo-hyun, a political science professor at Sookmyung Women’s University.
“What’s notably alarming is that the martial law and impeachment crisis not only shifted the opinions of moderates but also weakened the conservative stronghold.”
Analysts point out that South Korea’s conservative party is currently in a precarious position.
Yoon’s impeachment over his controversial martial law decree—where armed soldiers were sent to parliament—marks him as the second consecutive conservative president ousted from power after Park Geun-hye in 2017.
Conservative candidate Kim was unable to persuade a third-party contender, Lee Jun-seok of the Reform Party, to merge efforts and prevent a split in the right-leaning vote.
A Pivotal Moment
“Conservative politics used to be associated with effective governance, but it’s increasingly difficult to argue that they are still capable,” remarked Kang Won-taek, a political science professor at Seoul National University.
Lee’s Democratic Party already commands a majority in parliament, and analysts suggest that the divided conservative base will struggle to mount an effective opposition unless they can resolve their internal conflicts.
In South Korea, presidents are limited to a single five-year term.
In regular elections, there is a month-long transition period, with the new president taking office at midnight following the final day of the outgoing leader.
However, in snap elections, the victorious candidate assumes the presidency as soon as the National Election Commission confirms the official vote count.
Following months of instability and a series of interim leaders, many South Koreans are eager for the nation to turn a new page.
In Gwangju, the spiritual center of South Korea’s left, 65-year-old retiree Jung Se-yoon described the election as a “turning point.”
“If we miss this opportunity, it will take an immense amount of time for the country to recover,” Jung warned.
Experts predict a high voter turnout.
“The attention will not only be on whether Lee wins, but whether he secures over 50% of the votes,” noted Bae Kang-hoon, co-founder of the political think tank Valid.
“Achieving this would provide him with significant momentum for his presidency.”
