What you need to know as South Korea prepares to vote in presidential election

Published on 02/06/2025 - 14:48 GMT+2

South Koreans will caput to nan polls connected Tuesday successful a threat statesmanlike predetermination pursuing nan removal from agency of erstwhile leader Yoon Suk-yeol, who was ousted complete his little but disastrous declaration of martial rule successful December.

Around 44 cardinal South Koreans are expected to vote, including nan immoderate 258,254 Koreans surviving abroad, according to media reports. 

There are six candidates connected nan ballot, but nan wide frontrunner and erstwhile quality authorities lawyer, Lee Jae-myung of nan Democratic Party of Korea, is wide tipped to win, chiefly owed to nationalist discontent pinch Yoon's actions.

Additionally, a bid of Gallup Korea polls past week showed Lee commanding betwixt 46-49% support, good up of rival Kim Moon-soo of nan blimpish People Power Party, who is trailing pinch 35-37% support.

He antecedently led efforts to impeach Yoon and has pledged to clasp those responsible for nan martial rule decree to account.

Kim, a erstwhile labour curate nether Yoon, has struggled to summation traction, partially owed to his reluctance to criticise nan disgraced erstwhile president. 

The victor will beryllium sworn successful connected Wednesday, pinch nary modulation play and will service for a azygous word of 5 years.

Challenges ahead

The adjacent president will instantly look challenges including strained home unity, renewed world waste and acquisition tensions pinch nan US and nan continued threat from North Korea's expanding atomic programme.

While past elections person focused heavy connected North Korea, this year's run has been dominated by governmental accusation and interest complete nan fallout from Yoon's leadership.

Candidates person exchanged insults and individual attacks person often overshadowed argumentation proposals.

On a televised statement past week, Lee called Kim "Yoon Suk-yeol's avatar," and Kim said that Lee was a "harbinger of monster authorities and dictatorship." 

In summation to governmental divisions, nan caller leader must besides respond quickly to US President Donald Trump's "America First" waste and acquisition policy. 

Trump's world tariff region expires connected 9 July, perchance exposing South Korean exports to 25% duties.

Lee has criticised nan outgoing administration's unreserved to onslaught a waste and acquisition deal, while Kim has promised to prosecute pinch Trump straight to unafraid South Korea's economical interests.

Both candidates stock a cautious position of North Korea, pinch Lee signalling openness to talks but admitting that a "summit pinch Kim Jong-un won't hap immoderate clip soon." 

Kim, meanwhile, vows to fortify nan subject and support a patient stance.

The state remains profoundly polarised. Yoon's supporters proceed to declare predetermination fraud and impeach Lee's campy of subverting nan state. 

Yoon has accused Lee's statement of being "anti-state" that exploits their parliamentary mostly to obstruct his plans. 

Lee has promised reconciliation if elected, but critics fearfulness governmental retribution whitethorn follow, particularly arsenic Yoon faces proceedings for rebellion, a complaint that carries nan decease penalty.

Polls unfastened astatine 6am connected Tuesday morning.