With just two days to go before South Korea’s snap presidential election, the country’s leading candidates, Lee Jae-myung and Kim Moon-soo, held major rallies on Sunday in a final push to sway voters.
The election, scheduled for June 3, was hastily arranged following the impeachment and removal of former President Yoon Suk Yeol, who had briefly declared martial law last December—plunging the nation into political crisis.
Liberal candidate Lee Jae-myung is currently leading the race. The latest Gallup poll shows 49% of respondents favoring him, ahead of Kim Moon-soo of the conservative People Power Party (PPP), who trails with 35%.
Lee, 60, launched his Sunday rally in his hometown of Andong, about 240 kilometers southeast of Seoul. Addressing supporters, he promised to reduce the dominance of the capital region in national development.
“We need to go beyond balanced development and actively support non-Seoul regions through strategic incentives,” he said, clad in a bulletproof vest and surrounded by heightened security, including bulletproof shields on the podium.
Lee has faced serious threats to his safety. In January 2024, he survived a knife attack in **Busan** by a man who claimed he wanted to prevent Lee from becoming president. Lee plans to campaign in Busan again later Sunday.
Meanwhile, Kim Moon-soo rallied in **Suwon**, just outside Seoul. He took a jab at Lee’s heavy security presence.
“I’m not wearing a bulletproof vest, but Lee is now even using bulletproof shields. What’s next?” Kim remarked.
“This shows how Lee is preparing for a dictatorship under the guise of security. We must stop him.”
The National Election Commission reported that nearly 35% of voters have already cast their ballots during the early voting period held last week.
