South Korea Holds Presidential Election as Voters Head to the Polls to Choose New Leader

South Koreans turned out early on Tuesday to elect their next president, marking a pivotal moment for the nation amid political upheaval. Nationwide polling stations opened at 6:00 a.m. local time and will remain open until 8:00 p.m., as more than 44 million eligible voters are expected to participate in this crucial election at 14,295 polling stations spread across the country.

This extraordinary presidential race comes after former President Yoon Suk-yeol was removed from office following the fallout from his failed martial law attempt. His abrupt departure has left the political landscape deeply divided and highly charged, intensifying the stakes for both leading candidates and citizens alike.

According to recent opinion polls, Lee Jae-myung of the Democratic Party is maintaining a substantial lead, with support hovering around 50 percent. His main rival, Kim Moon-soo of the People Power Party, trails behind with approximately 30 percent backing. This dynamic has heightened anticipation nationwide, particularly given Lee's narrow loss in the previous 2022 presidential contest, when he fell short by just 0.73 percentage points to then-candidate Yoon.

In an effort to maximize voter turnout, early voting was conducted over two days from May 29 to May 30. During this period, 34.74 percent of eligible voters had already cast their ballots, signaling strong public engagement and eagerness to shape the country's future leadership.

As ballot boxes fill, attention now turns to the final tally, which will determine who takes on the immense responsibility of steering South Korea through its next chapter. With the nation watching closely, the outcome of today's vote promises to have significant implications both domestically and for South Korea's standing on the global stage.