Country elects new leader following unrest under military rule
SEoul's polling stations buzzed Tuesday, as South Koreans cast their votes for a new president, wrapping up half a year of political tumult spurred by former leader Yoon Suk Yeol's ill-fated martial law decree.
A scattering of senior citizens stood in line at a voting station in Seoul's Munrae-dong district at 6:00 am (2100 GMT), eager to vote for their preferred candidate.
"We arrived early, hopeful our chosen candidate will secure the win and because this presidential election matters the most," said Yu Bun-dol, 80, sharing her sentiments with AFP, revealing her vote for the conservative People Power Party (PPP) nominee.
Roughly two-thirds of eligible voters have already voted in this snap election, with more than a third casting their ballots during early voting sessions last week, according to the National Election Commission.
All significant polls indicate that Lee Jae-myung, the liberal candidate, holds a comfortable lead, according to the latest Gallup survey, with 49% of respondents backing him as the best candidate.
Kim Moon-soo, representing the conservative PPP - Yoon's former political home - trails Lee at 35%.
The repercussions of martial law, which left South Korea without a clear leader during the initial months of US President Donald Trump's second term, takes top priority for voters, according to experts.
"The election is essentially a referendum on the previous administration," said Kang Joo-hyun, a political science professor at Sookmyung Women's University, chatting with AFP. He added, "The fallout from martial law and impeachment crisis not only swayed moderates but also fractured the conservative base."
Analysts contend that South Korea's conservative party is in crisis mode following Yoon's impeachment for his misguided martial law proclamation that caused armed soldiers to be deployed to the parliament.
Conservative nominee Kim struggled to convince a third-party candidate, Lee Jun-seok of the Reform Party, to consolidate alliance and avoid fragmenting the right-wing vote.
- 'Pivotal Moment' -
"Conservatism was synonymous with capable governance, but that notion is increasingly hard to defend," said Kang Won-taek, a political science professor at Seoul National University.
Lee's Democratic Party currently holds a legislative majority, and observers say the divided conservative ranks will face challenges in opposition if they can't resolve their internal issues.
South Korean presidents serve a single five-year term. In this snap election, the victor is set to assume office as soon as the vote tally is confirmed by the National Election Commission instead of the traditional transition periods.
After several tumultuous months and a constant succession of interim leaders, many South Koreans are looking forward to this election serving as a turning point.
In Gwangju, the spiritual soul of South Korea's leftist movement, Jung Se-yoon, 65, a retired teacher, declared, "This election is a pivotal moment. It will be tiresome if we let this opportunity slip away for the country to recover."
Analysts predict high voter turnout. The main focus will revolve around Lee's effort to secure over 50% of the vote. "If Lee achieves this, it will grant him substantial momentum in his presidential duties," commented Bae Kang-hoon, co-founder of political think tank Valid.
"The election is not only a deciding factor for South Korea's future presidency, but also a referendum on the previous administration's policies, particularly the misguided martial law decree," said Bae Kang-hoon, co-founder of political think tank Valid.
"With crime and justice, war and conflicts, and policy and legislation at stake, this election is a pivotal moment for the country's politics and general news," added Jung Se-yoon, a retired teacher in Gwangju.
