South Koreans are set to vote on Tuesday in a critical snap presidential election to choose the country’s next leader for a five-year term, with rival candidates intensifying their efforts to sway undecided voters in the final hours of the campaign.
The election follows the dramatic impeachment and removal of former President Yoon Suk Yeol, who was ousted in December after attempting to invoke martial law. With the presidency now up for grabs, the race has become a closely watched political showdown.
According to the latest poll, Lee Jae-myung of the main opposition Democratic Party (DP) is leading with 49.2% support. Lee, 61, is a former human rights lawyer turned politician. His main challenger, Kim Moon-soo of the ruling People Power Party (PPP), a 73-year-old former labor minister, trails behind with 36.8%. Lee Jun-seok, head of the conservative New Reform Party, stands in third place with 10.3%.
Six candidates are officially on the ballot. Both leading contenders held major rallies in Seoul on Monday in a final bid to secure late momentum, Yonhap News Agency reported.
Early voting concluded last week, and South Koreans living abroad have already cast their ballots. The National Election Commission reports that 44.4 million of the country’s 52 million citizens are eligible to vote.
Polling stations will open at 6:00 a.m. local time (2100 GMT on June 2) and close at 8:00 p.m. (1100 GMT on June 3). Election day has been declared a national holiday.
Vote counting will begin immediately after polls close, with the results expected to be announced late Tuesday night or early Wednesday morning.
