SOUTH Korea began voting on Tuesday to elect a new president following six months marked by intense political chaos and division.
The election aims to replace former President Yoon Suk Yeol, whose controversial declaration of martial law last December triggered a national crisis.
This presidential vote holds heightened significance as South Korea, a key US ally and major Asian economic player, has struggled through repeated leadership changes amid Yoon’s impeachment proceedings and investigations into his abrupt attempt to seize control.
Meanwhile, the country’s economy faces challenges exacerbated by global tensions, including ongoing US-China trade disputes and concerns about a global recession.
Two main candidates are vying to lead South Korea’s recovery: Lee Jae-myung, a 60-year-old liberal opposition figure and human rights lawyer turned politician; and Kim Moon-soo, a 73-year-old conservative former labor minister with a background as an anti-establishment activist.
Polls opened Tuesday morning, with election results expected by Wednesday.
Front-runner Lee Jae-myung: From Factory Worker to Political Contender
Lee Jae-myung, the Democratic Party’s candidate, rose from humble beginnings as an underage factory worker to become a prominent human rights lawyer and politician.
He served as mayor and governor before narrowly losing the 2022 presidential election to Yoon. Lee survived a January 2024 assassination attempt when he was stabbed during a public event.
Lee’s reputation soared again on December 3, 2024, when he famously defied martial law orders by entering the National Assembly despite military presence to help lift the emergency decree, an act widely shared on social media.
Campaigning on promises of political reform, Lee seeks to limit presidential power over martial law declarations and amend the constitution to allow presidents two four-year terms, replacing the current single five-year term.
He also advocates easing tensions with North Korea while maintaining denuclearization efforts and supports boosting small businesses and AI sector growth.
However, Lee faces ongoing legal battles, including bribery allegations and a property scandal, which he denies, asserting political motivation behind the charges.
Conservative Challenger Kim Moon-soo Pushes for Unity and Reform
Kim Moon-soo, backed by former President Yoon, represents the conservative People Power Party (PPP).
Once a student labor activist who endured imprisonment for protests, Kim later joined the conservative ranks and became PPP’s candidate after internal party disputes.
Despite trailing Lee in polls, Kim pledged to unite his divided party and build a broad coalition to challenge the liberal front-runner.
His platform focuses on political and judicial reforms, restoring public trust, and fostering a business-friendly environment with tax cuts, deregulation, and support for nuclear energy and new technologies.
Other third-party candidates, such as Lee Jun-seok of the New Reform Party, also compete but remain less prominent.