South Koreans Vote In Snap Presidential Election Amid Political Upheaval
South Koreans headed to the polls on Tuesday to elect a new president in a snap election, marking the climax of months of political turmoil triggered by the controversial actions and subsequent impeachment of former President Yoon Suk Yeol, according to AFP.
Polling stations opened at 6:00 a.m. local time across the country. In Seoul’s Munrae-dong district, elderly citizens were among the early voters eager to cast their ballots.
“We came early to ensure our candidate wins. This is the most important election,” said 80-year-old Yu Bun-dol, who shared she was backing the conservative People Power Party candidate.
Over a third of registered voters had already cast their ballots during a two-day early voting window last week, according to the National Election Commission. This election is being closely watched as a public verdict on the embattled conservative leadership of Yoon, who was removed from office after deploying military forces to the National Assembly—a move widely condemned and ultimately leading to his impeachment.
The scandal has shaken the conservative People Power Party, with many moderates and core supporters growing increasingly disillusioned. Leading the race is Lee Jae-myung of the Democratic Party, who has maintained a strong lead in recent opinion polls. A Gallup Korea survey reported 49% support for Lee, while his main conservative rival, Kim Moon-soo, trails at 35%. Lee’s party currently holds a majority in parliament.
Experts say the key issue driving voter sentiment is the fallout from Yoon’s declaration of martial law, which left the country without effective leadership during the early months of U.S. President Donald Trump's second term.
“This vote is widely seen as a referendum on the Yoon administration,” said Kang Joo-hyun, a political science professor at Sookmyung Women’s University.
The conservative camp has also suffered from internal divisions, particularly Kim’s inability to form a coalition with Reform Party candidate Lee Jun-seok, weakening their overall prospects. Yoon's impeachment marks the second removal of a conservative president in under ten years, following Park Geun-hye’s ouster in 2017, further tarnishing the image of conservative governance. “Conservatives were once seen as competent leaders, but that perception has been significantly damaged,” noted Kang Won-taek, a professor at Seoul National University.
Unlike general elections, the winner of this snap vote will assume office immediately after the results are certified by the election commission. Many citizens, weary from the leadership vacuum, are hopeful the outcome will bring stability.
In the liberal stronghold of Gwangju, 65-year-old retired teacher Jung Se-yoon called the election a pivotal moment. “If we miss this opportunity, it may take years for the country to recover,” she said.
Turnout is expected to be high, with analysts paying close attention not only to who wins, but by what margin. “The real question is whether Lee can win with over 50 percent of the vote,” said Bae Kang-hoon, co-founder of the political think tank Valid. “A clear majority would give him strong momentum as he takes office.”
South Korean presidents serve a single five-year term. The results of today’s election will determine the nation’s path forward following one of its most politically turbulent periods in recent memory.