SEOUL, June 03 (AJP) - Liberal candidate Lee Jae-myung of the Democratic Party is projected to win South Korea’s snap presidential election held Tuesday, with exit polls showing him ahead with 51.7 percent of the vote. His conservative rival Kim Moon-soo of the People Power Party follows with 39.3 percent, according to a joint exit poll survey by public broadcasters KBS, MBC, and SBS.
This marks South Korea’s first presidential snap election in eight years, following the one held after the impeachment of former President Park Geun-hye in 2017.
The vote was called after former President Yoon Suk Yeol was impeached and removed from office for declaring martial law on December 3, 2024. The Constitutional Court upheld the National Assembly’s decision on Apr. 4, and under South Korean law, a new president must be elected within 60 days of a vacancy.
Lee, 61, began his life in poverty in Andong, working in factories as a child to help support his family. After passing a high school equivalency exam, he studied law and became a human rights lawyer. He later served as mayor of Seongnam City and governor of Gyeonggi Province, building a reputation for progressive policies and welfare reforms.
The Democratic Party already holds 171 of the 300 seats in the National Assembly. A victory for Lee would further strengthen its political standing and mark a clear rejection of the previous conservative administration. Kim, despite his credentials, struggled to overcome the backlash from Yoon’s impeachment and divisions within the conservative bloc.
Voting took place from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. at 14,295 polling stations across the country. The National Election Commission reported a turnout of 77.8 percent as of 7 p.m., with about 44 million people eligible to vote. The official result is expected early Wednesday, and the new president will take office immediately.
reporter
Park Sae-jin
swatchsjp@ajunews.com
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