South Korea’s top presidential contenders made a final push across the country on Monday, ahead of Tuesday’s high-stakes election triggered by the ouster of President Yoon Suk Yeol. Yoon’s shock imposition of martial law in December, which the Constitutional Court later ruled a grave violation of his duties, has left the nation politically shaken.
Liberal frontrunner Lee Jae-myung, representing the Democratic Party, vowed to heal the social divide and hold Yoon’s People Power Party accountable, calling them “insurrection sympathisers.” Speaking to a large crowd in Seoul, Lee warned that the country faces a critical choice between “democracy or dictatorship.” He pledged immediate action to revive the economy if elected, with a focus on reducing the cost of living and supporting small businesses and low-income families.
Conservative rival Kim Moon-soo, who began his final campaign day in Jeju and traveled north, labeled Lee a "dangerous man" who might abuse power with his party’s majority in parliament. Kim offered another apology for Yoon’s failed martial law and promised political reform.
Both candidates are concluding their campaigns in Seoul, home to the largest bloc of South Korea’s 44 million voters. Voting begins nationwide at 6 a.m. local time on Tuesday. The winner, to be certified on Wednesday, will take office immediately, with no transition period due to Yoon’s early removal.
This unprecedented election comes at a time of economic hardship and institutional strain, as South Koreans prepare to choose a new leader to restore stability and confidence in their democratic system.