Record turnout as early voting starts in South Korea presidential election

Published: Thursday, May 29, 2025 at 10:47 am

Record Turnout Marks Start of Early Voting in South Korea's Snap Presidential Election

South Korea witnessed a surge in voter participation as early voting commenced on Thursday, setting a new record for presidential elections. The National Election Commission reported a remarkable 19.58% turnout by the close of polls, representing approximately 8.7 million of the country's 44.4 million eligible voters. This marks the highest first-day early voting figure since the system was introduced in 2014.

The snap election, scheduled for June 3rd, was triggered by the impeachment and removal of President Yoon Suk Yeol in April, following his controversial martial law declaration in December. This event has deepened existing political divisions within the nation.

Six candidates are vying for the presidency, with the race primarily between Lee Jae-myung of the liberal Democratic Party and Kim Moon-soo of the conservative People Power Party. Lee, the frontrunner according to most polls, urged voters to condemn Yoon's actions. Kim, endorsed by the impeached president, expressed confidence in closing the gap despite trailing in the polls.

Voters are grappling with critical issues, including economic uncertainty stemming from potential U.S. tariffs, escalating geopolitical tensions with North Korea, and a looming demographic crisis due to the world's lowest birth rate. Presidents Park Geun-hye and Moon Jae-in also participated in early voting, with Moon urging voters to hold the Yoon administration accountable. Early voting continues Friday, with election day set for Tuesday.

BNN's Perspective: The high voter turnout underscores the significance of this election for South Koreans. While the circumstances surrounding the election are undeniably divisive, the strong participation suggests a desire for a decisive outcome and a clear direction for the country moving forward. The focus on economic stability and geopolitical concerns highlights the complex challenges facing the next president.

Keywords: South Korea election, early voting, presidential election, voter turnout, Lee Jae-myung, Kim Moon-soo, Yoon Suk Yeol, impeachment, martial law, economy, North Korea, demographics, snap election, political divisions, election results, voting, national election commission

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