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2w ago

South Korea’s Presidential Race Enters Final Hours With Lee Jae-myung Holding a Nearly 50% Lead

Voters will decide on leadership after a campaign that tested democratic norms following Yoon’s brief martial law decree

People hold placards that read 'Let's not forget the December 3 insurrection' during a campaign rally ahead of South Korea's June 3 poll
Vehicles produced by South Korean automaker Kia Motors are waiting to be shipped at the Port of Pyeongtaek on April 3, 2025.
Soldiers try to enter the legislature in Seoul after the martial law decree on December 4, 2024.
Former President Yoon Suk Yeol (center) arrives at the Seoul Central District Court for a criminal hearing in Seoul, South Korea, on May 19, 2025.

Overview

  • Lee Jae-myung holds a commanding lead at about 49% in major polls while Kim Moon-soo trails with roughly 36% support on the eve of voting.
  • In the campaign’s final hours Lee crisscrossed Gyeonggi Province and Seoul’s Yeouido district and Kim rallied voters from Jeju Island to Gangnam in a push for swing and youth demographics.
  • Early voting reached over 34%, reflecting unprecedented public engagement in the snap election called after the December martial law crisis.
  • The winner will take office within hours of certification without a transition, confronting economic headwinds, tariff pressures from the United States and demands for democratic reform.
  • Voters see the race as a decisive judgment on Yoon Suk Yeol’s martial law declaration and an opportunity to restore democratic stability in South Korea.