South Koreans headed to the polls on Tuesday for a snap presidential election, capping months of political unrest sparked by the impeachment of former President Yoon Suk Yeol after his imposition of martial law.
According to AFP, polling stations opened at 6:00 a.m. local time, with early voter turnout seen in places like Seoul’s Munrae-dong, where elderly residents lined up to cast their ballots.
“We came early because we believe this election is crucial,” said 80-year-old Yu Bun-dol, who voted for the conservative People Power Party candidate.
More than one-third of registered voters had already cast their ballots during last week’s two-day early voting period, the National Election Commission reported.
This election is widely seen as a national referendum on the conservative leadership of Yoon, who was removed from office after deploying military forces to the parliament—a move that drew national and international condemnation.
Yoon’s fall has plunged the People Power Party into crisis. Political analysts note that even core conservative supporters have grown disillusioned, with the party facing internal fractures and diminished public trust.
Liberal Candidate Leads
Liberal frontrunner Lee Jae-myung of the Democratic Party is currently leading in most opinion polls. A recent Gallup survey put him at 49% support, compared to 35% for the main conservative contender, Kim Moon-soo. Lee’s party already holds a parliamentary majority.
“The election is largely perceived as a judgment on the previous administration,” said Kang Joo-hyun, a political science professor at Sookmyung Women’s University.
The conservative camp’s struggles were compounded by Kim’s failure to secure an alliance with Reform Party candidate Lee Jun-seok, raising concerns about a split right-wing vote.
Yoon’s impeachment marked the second time in under 10 years that a conservative president has been ousted, following the 2017 removal of Park Geun-hye. These repeated scandals have severely eroded confidence in conservative governance.
“Conservatives were once viewed as capable administrators. That image has been shattered,” said Kang Won-taek, a professor at Seoul National University.
Urgency and Uncertainty
Unlike regular presidential elections, this snap vote offers no transition period. The winner will assume office immediately after certification by the election commission. After months of interim leadership, many South Koreans are eager for stability.
In the liberal-leaning city of Gwangju, 65-year-old retired teacher Jung Se-yoon said, “This election is a turning point. If we don’t get it right now, recovery will take far too long.”
Observers expect high voter turnout, with attention focused on not just who wins, but by what margin. “If Lee secures over 50% of the vote, it would give him a powerful mandate to govern,” said Bae Kang-hoon, co-founder of political think tank Valid.
South Korean presidents serve a single five-year term. The results of this pivotal election will shape the country’s direction after one of the most turbulent periods in its modern democratic history.
