Record election in South Korea: Over 12 million votes in advance!

In the middle of this turbulent political climate, the police report on an increase in vandalism to election materials, which has led to at least 690 arrests. The front runner of the choice, Lee Jae-Myung, which leads to 42.9 % of the votes in the surveys, bears a bulletproof vest due to murder threats and has installed bulletproof glass at its electoral events. The authorities registered 11 cases of threats to him on social media.

election campaign and election strategies

Lee Jae-Myung is a member of the Democratic Party and has proposed a growth model that includes a AI-based power grid and an unconditional basic income. He also plans an introduction of a 4-day week until 2035. Kim Moon-Soo from Conservative People Power Party follows him with 36.8 % in surveys, while Lee Jun-Seok from the conservative New Reform Party is in third place with 10.3 %. A total of seven candidates for the presidential election are registered.

The current election campaign is in the shade of military threats from North Korea and geopolitical tensions. The social situation is shaped by social inequality and a gender play gap of 31 % in the years before the election. The last parliamentary elections took place in 2024, in which an irreconcilable blockade between the government and the opposition has established itself, which makes political discussions considerably more difficult.

The election process

The voters can vote on June 3, 2025 from 6:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. The intensity of the election campaign is also shown on the broad basis of polling stations, which are set up in 182 countries for South Koreans living abroad. These developments not only mean an important political turning point, but also a test for the relevance and stability of South Korean democracy.