logo
South Korea election: The leading candidates, key dates and top issues

South Korea election: The leading candidates, key dates and top issues

Independent02-06-2025
The people of South Korea are heading to the polls for their 21st presidential election.
Voters will be hoping to restore political stability after months of turmoil.
The election aims to fill the power vacuum left by former leader Yoon Suk Yeol's failed attempt to impose martial law.
In this single-round election, the candidate with the most votes will be declared the winner and serve a five-year term.
Results are expected on the evening of Tuesday, 3 June or early on Wednesday, 4 June.
Here's what you need to know about the leading candidates, key dates, and other important details.
Leading candidates
The top three candidates based on a Gallup Korea poll a week ago were the liberal frontrunner Lee Jae-myung of the Democratic Party, with 49 per cent public support, followed by his main conservative rival Kim Moon-soo of the People Power Party with 35 per cent and another conservative candidate, New Reform Party's Lee Jun-seok, on 11 per cent.
All of the candidates remaining in the race are men, with no women in the final lineup for the first time since 2007, according to the National Election Commission (NEC). South Korea has only had one female leader, Park Geun-hye.
One of the six candidates, independent Hwang Kyo-ahn, quit the race on Sunday to back Mr Kim, media reports said.
The youngest candidate is Lee Jun-seok, who is 40, and the oldest is Kim Moon-soo at 73.
Number and makeup of voters
There are 44.39 million eligible voters, with women accounting for 50.5 per cent of voters, according to data on the electoral roll from the interior ministry.
South Korea is one of the world's fastest ageing societies and the number of voters aged above 60 accounts for about a third of the electorate, outstripping the 28 per cent share of those in their 20s and 30s.
Gyeonggi Province is home to the largest number of voters, accounting for 26.4 per cent, followed by Seoul at 18.7 per cent and Busan at 6.5 per cent.
A total of 205,268 people overseas voted between 20-25 May in 118 countries, the NEC said.
Election security
South Korea's acting President Lee Ju-ho has said the government was "transparently disclosing the entire process of the presidential election", according to his office.
The National Election Commission will air CCTV surveillance footage of rooms storing ballots from early voting, with their entrances sealed before counting starts and transported ballots given police escorts, Lee said.
After votes are cast, ballots will be initially sorted by machines and then election workers will count them, the NEC said.
Election schedule
The official election campaign is relatively short in South Korea in a bid to contain costs. It started on 12 May.
There were 3,568 polling stations across the country open for early voting that was allowed between 29-30 May. Eligible voters could cast their ballots at any of the polling stations without pre-registration between 6am and 6pm.
Turnout for early voting has generally increased over the years, with more than a third voting early in recent presidential elections.
In the latest election, 15.4 million, or 34.74 per cent of the total, voted during early ballots between 29-30 May, compared to the 2022 election's proportion of 36.9 per cent.
Election day on 3 June is a public holiday and voting will run from 6am until 8pm with an indication of the results likely to start emerging that evening or early the next day.
On 4 June, the National Election Commission is expected to verify the results and the inauguration of the new president will be held.
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Rubio urges Cambodia, Thailand to deescalate, offers US for talks
Rubio urges Cambodia, Thailand to deescalate, offers US for talks

Reuters

time9 hours ago

  • Reuters

Rubio urges Cambodia, Thailand to deescalate, offers US for talks

WASHINGTON, July 27 (Reuters) - U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio spoke with the foreign ministers of Cambodia and Thailand on Sunday, urging them to immediately deescalate tensions and telling them the United States was ready to help with talks, the State Department said. "The United States is prepared to facilitate future discussions in order to ensure peace and stability between Thailand and Cambodia," the department said in statements on Sunday about separate calls with Thai Foreign Minister Maris Sangiampongsa and Cambodian Foreign Minister Prak Sokhonn.

Russia launches first direct passenger flights connecting Moscow and Pyongyang in decades
Russia launches first direct passenger flights connecting Moscow and Pyongyang in decades

The Independent

time13 hours ago

  • The Independent

Russia launches first direct passenger flights connecting Moscow and Pyongyang in decades

Russia will launch direct passenger flights from Moscow to North Korea 's capital Pyongyang on Sunday, Russian authorities said, as the two former communist bloc allies move to improve ties following Russia's invasion of Ukraine in 2022. The start of regular flights between the capitals for the first time since the mid-1990s, according to Russian aviation blogs, follows the resumption of Moscow-Pyongyang passenger rail service, a 10-day journey, in June. The first flight will leave Sheremetyevo airport at 7pm (1600 GMT), according to the airport's timetable. The eight-hour flight will be operated by a Boeing 777-200ER with a capacity of 440 passengers, Russia's RIA state news agency said on Sunday. It said tickets started at 44,700 roubles ($563), and the first flight quickly sold out. Russia's civil aviation authority Rosaviatsia has granted Nordwind Airlines permission to operate flights between Moscow and Pyongyang twice a week. The transport ministry said in a statement that for now flights would operate once a month, "to help build stable demand". The only direct air route between Russia and North Korea has been flights by North Korean carrier Air Koryo to Vladivostok in Russia's Far East three times a week. Ukraine and its Western allies have accused North Korea of supplying Russia with artillery and ballistic missiles. Moscow and Pyongyang deny the allegations. Pyongyang has deployed more than 10,000 troops and arms to Russia to back Moscow's military campaign in Ukraine. North Korean leader Kim Jong Un said this month his country was ready to "unconditionally support" Moscow's efforts to resolve the conflict in Ukraine.

Kim Jong Un gives battle cry speech about winning 'anti-American' world war... after Trump boasted about their bromance
Kim Jong Un gives battle cry speech about winning 'anti-American' world war... after Trump boasted about their bromance

Daily Mail​

time16 hours ago

  • Daily Mail​

Kim Jong Un gives battle cry speech about winning 'anti-American' world war... after Trump boasted about their bromance

North Korean dictator Kim Jong Un has fired off a chilling battle cry, vowing victory in an 'anti-imperialist, anti-US' war, despite Trump boasting about their special relationship just months ago. Marking the 71st anniversary of the Korean War armistice, Jong Un ramped up his war rhetoric, declaring his regime would become the 'honorable victors' in a new global showdown against Washington DC and its allies. 'Our state and its people would surely achieve the great cause of building a rich country with a strong army and become honorable victors in the anti-imperialist, anti-U.S. showdown,' Kim said, according to North Korea 's state-run KCNA news agency. The bold proclamation was part of North Korea's national celebration of 'Victory Day,' a holiday the country uniquely commemorates despite the war ending in stalemate. South Korea, however, does not mark the occasion. Jong Un's announcement comes as North Korea deepens its military alliance with Russia, fighting alongside the sprawling country in its war against Ukraine. Thousands of North Korean soldiers have reportedly been deployed to Russia's Kursk region, and Pyongyang is believed to be shipping munitions to fuel Moscow 's war in Ukraine. More troops may be dispatched as early as August, South Korean officials have warned. The fiery rhetoric however is nothing new for Jong Un, who has spent months accusing the U.S. and South Korea of provoking conflict. In February this year, President Donald Trump resurfaced in the North Korea conversation, boasting about his 'friendship' with Jong Un. During his first term, Trump met Jong Un three times, including one visit to the Demilitarized Zone between North and South Korea. 'We will have relations with North Korea, with Kim Jong Un,' Trump said during a press conference in February 2025, while standing beside Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba. 'I got along with him very well, as you know. I think I stopped a war,' Trump added. While the meetings earned global headlines, critics say they gave Jong Un international legitimacy without curbing his nuclear ambitions. Even so, Trump doubled down claiming the meetings were an 'asset for the world.' 'If I can have a relationship with not only him, but other people throughout the world where there seem to be difficulties, I think that's a tremendous asset for the world.' However in October, Jong Un issued a warning about his country's nuclear capabilities. He said North Korea 'will without hesitation use all its attack capabilities' if it detects even a hint of military action from its enemies. 'The use of nuclear weapons is not ruled out in this case,' Kim declared during a speech at the Kim Jong Un University of National Defense on October 7. Jong Un claims the nuclear buildup is necessary as Washington and Seoul strengthen their joint military planning and expand strategic weapons deployment across the region. Since 2022, North Korea has followed a first-strike nuclear policy, claiming it will launch nuclear weapons if it perceives a threat to its leadership. Still, most military analysts believe Pyongyang would struggle to match the combined firepower of the U.S. and South Korea. South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol fired back at Kim's 'threats', warning the northern leader that any use of nuclear weapons would spell the 'end of the regime' and trigger an 'overwhelming' response from the allied forces. Meanwhile, North Korea's missile program continues at full throttle.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store