Election thriller in South Korea: Who ends the crisis time to Yoon?

Election thriller in South Korea: Who ends the crisis time to Yoon?

Südkorea - Today, on June 3, 2025, around 44 million South Koreans are called for the election of a new president. This election has an explosive political relevance, since it regulates the successor of the disempowered ex-President Yoon Suk Yeol, who was removed by the constitutional court in April 2025 due to the Hochgerrat. This ballot is now intended to end the tumultuous political situation, which culminated in the proclamation of the war law in December 2024. Observers warn that the result will not only influence the internal politics of South Korea, but could also shape the relationships of the country to China, the USA and Europe, reports the Süddeutsche .

The turnout shows a positive development in the early morning. By 11:00 a.m. local time, this was 18.3 percent, which is more than two percentage points higher than in the last presidential election in 2022. The polling stations close at 8:00 p.m. local time, and the first projections are expected shortly afterwards.

The main candidates at a glance

The favorite in these elections is the 60-year-old left-wing politician Lee Jae Myung , who lies in the surveys with a distance of about 10 percentage points ahead of his main competitor. Lee, who is known as the "South Korean Bernie Sanders", became known as a former human rights lawyer and, among other things, calls for an expansion of renewable energies and strengthening employee rights. He also strives to approach China and North Korea.

his opponent, the 73-year-old Kim Moon Soo , represents arch-conservative positions and advocates a tough course opposite North Korea. Kim has an entrepreneur -friendly economic policy in view and at the same time offers a departure of communist views that he represented in his youth.

political and economic framework conditions

South Korea is currently facing some challenges. The economic situation is tense: the gross domestic product shrank by 0.2 percent in the first quarter of 2025, and the competition from China is a threat to South Korea's dominance in nuclear industries. In addition, North Korea remains a constant security threat, while the country modernizes its nuclear program.

The choice is also influenced by social issues such as the low birth rate, demographic change and pressure to perform in society. In their election promises, young voters in particular demand solutions for high living costs and affordable living space. The population longs for months of political chaos, as the watson

In addition, the president will have far -reaching power powers. He heads the government, is commander -in -chief of the military and can issue regulations. However, he only has a legislative period of five years. The outcome of today's election could thus set the course for the future policy of the country.

The political conviction of the voters could also be influenced by the question of who could enjoy the necessary immunity from the candidates should Lee Jae-Myung elected as president. As the Tagesschau , Lee is presented by the conservative People Power Party as a criminal, while she is trying to use the past of the ex-President Yoon, to use the votes in votes to counteract.