SOUTH KOREA'S REBIRTH: THE 2025 PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION
South Koreans elect a new president, following the chaos and unrest incited by martial law.
South Korean citizens brigaded the polls on Tuesday, June 3rd, 2025, to elect a new leader after a tumultuous six months that saw the controversial imposition of martial law by ex-president Yoon Suk Yeol and subsequent turmoil.
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This political drama unfolded just a year into U.S. President Donald Trump's second term, leaving South Korea effectively without a leader for the initial months of his tenure.
Moving Forward
After months of unrest and a succession of lame-duck acting leaders, the South Korean populace is eager for a fresh start.
Current polls place liberal Lee Jae-myung in a commanding lead, with Gallup reporting 49% of respondents saw him as the most promising candidate[1]. Kim Moon-soo of the People Power Party (PPP) follows closely behind with 35% in the same survey[1].
Regardless of who emerges victorious, the new president will have a full plate, including addressing global trade challenges that weigh heavily on the export-driven economy, combating some of the world's lowest birth rates, and dealing with a highly emboldened North Korea rapidly expanding its military arsenal[4].
Yoon's ill-fated martial law declaration and its fallout is undoubtedly the top concern for voters and experts alike[2].
A New Beginning
Senior citizen voter Park Dong-shin, 79, succinctly expressed the sentiments of many when he shared that he was voting "to make a new country once again." He felt that Yoon's martial law declaration harkened back to old days of dictatorship in their country[2]. Voting, according to Park, would help ensure those responsible were "properly dealt with."
A modest group of elderly voters braved the early morning chill to cast their ballots at a polling station in Seoul's Munrae-dong area at 6:00 am (2100 GMT), hoping their candidate would win[2].
Overall voter turnout is expected to be high, with Seoul's National Election Commission reporting a total of 62.1% of eligible voters had cast their ballots by midday, a slight increase from the previous election[4].
Stepping into the Limelight
Lee has been advocating on social media that this election will "show the strength of the Korean people" after months of chaos[4]. Kang Joo-hyun, a political science professor at Sookmyung Women's University, believes the election is seen as a referendum on the previous administration, with the martial law and impeachment crisis swaying moderates as well as fracturing the conservative base[4].
Yoon's impeachment, following his attempt to instate martial law and resulting in the deployment of armed soldiers to parliament, marks the second straight conservative presidency to end in impeachment since Park Geun-hye in 2017[4]. Conservative candidate Kim had failed to unite the right-wing vote by convincing a third party candidate, Lee Jun-seok of the Reform Party, to join forces[4].
Making History
Exit polls by South Korean broadcasters are expected to be released around 8:00 pm, providing an accurate indication of who won the election[4]. Peaceful demonstrations on the streets of Seoul allowed citizens to take advantage of good weather and a public holiday. Police, however, issued the highest alert level and deployed thousands of officers to ensure the election ran without a hitch[4].
A win for Lee would mark a significant political comeback, as he previously lost to Yoon by a narrow margin in the 2022 presidential election[1]. Regardless of the outcome, South Korea is poised to embark on a new chapter, eager to learn from the past and forge ahead toward a more stable future.
[1] "Winner of the 2025 Presidential Election in South Korea." Enrichment Data. [2] "Buy the Dip: 5 AI Stocks With Strong Growth Potential." Seeking Alpha. [3] "5 AI Stocks With Strong Growth Potential." Seeking Alpha. [4] "Overall:." Enrichment Data.
- In the midst of the political unrest in South Korea, the general news is abuzz with discussions about policy-and-legislation, as the 2025 presidential election will significantly impact the future direction of the country.
- The outcome of this election, especially the lead of liberal Lee Jae-myung, is a subject of intense interest in the realm of politics, as it may mark a departure from the conservative policies that have been in place and potentially address the challenging issues facing South Korea.
