South Koreans flocked to polling stations in unprecedented numbers during the first day of early voting, with 8.7 million citizens (19.6% of eligible voters) casting ballots by 6 p.m. Thursday—the highest early turnout in the nation’s presidential election history.
The snap election comes after months of instability in the aftermath of former President Yoon Suk Yeol’s ouster over a failed martial law attempt, leaving voters eager for leadership amid economic decline and political division.
Democratic Party candidate Lee Jae-myung, leading pre-poll blackout surveys at 49%, voted in Seoul’s university district while promising sweeping reforms. His platform includes creating a Climate and Energy Ministry and expanding gender equality initiatives, pitched as solutions to Korea’s 2025 growth forecast slump to 0.8%.
“We must rebuild a Korea of recovery,” Lee urged young voters, leveraging his party’s parliamentary majority as a mandate for change.
Conservative challenger Kim Moon-soo (35% in final polls) failed to consolidate support despite cutting Lee’s lead from 20 points to 14 during the campaign.
Voting in Lee’s home constituency, Kim warned a Democratic victory would endanger freedoms, while New Reform Party spoiler Lee Jun-seok (11%) refused to drop out—fracturing the right-wing vote. It didn’t go unnoticed that Kim’s inability to broker an alliance mirrors the People Power Party’s broader struggle to move past Yoon’s controversial tenure.
Why It Matters
With 44.39 million eligible voters and Friday’s final early voting day remaining, the record participation reflects public urgency after a year of constitutional crises and economic stagnation. The National Election Commission reported turnout already exceeds 2022’s 17.6% early voting rate, suggesting April’s parliamentary revolt against Yoon continues to energize the electorate. As candidates make last appeals, the unexpected engagement shows that Koreans view this election as an important reset for Asia’s fourth-largest economy.
