Seoul: Democratic Party (DP) candidate Lee Jae-myung was projected to win the presidential election by a wide margin Tuesday, as four polls indicated his lead over rival candidates.
According to Yonhap News Agency, a joint exit poll conducted by broadcasters KBS, MBC, and SBS showed Lee of the liberal DP leading the conservative People Power Party (PPP) candidate Kim Moon-soo with 51.7 percent to 39.3 percent. Additional polls by JTBC, Channel A, and MBN conducted in the days leading up to the election also projected Lee securing approximately 50 percent of the vote against Kim's 38.9 percent to 41.7 percent. Lee Jun-seok of the New Reform Party was trailing in third place, with projections indicating support between 7.7 percent and 8.7 percent.
The election comes six months after former President Yoon Suk Yeol's declaration of martial law, which led to significant political and economic turmoil. Lee campaigned on addressing the "insurrection forces" led by Yoon, following his impeachment and removal from office. Kim Moon-soo focused his campaign on Lee's legal challenges and leadership style, advocating for a future free from "dictatorship."
As exit poll results surfaced, DP campaign officials celebrated while PPP members expressed disappointment over the unexpected gap in voter support. Voter turnout was notably high, with 79.4 percent of the 44.39 million eligible voters participating, according to the National Election Commission (NEC). This turnout is the highest since the 1997 election.
The election also saw early voting participation from 34.74 percent of registered voters, the second-highest since early voting began in 2014. Reports of election law violations were minimal, with the Seoul Metropolitan Police receiving 81 reports by the afternoon, including an incident involving a red balloon supporting Kim, which violated proximity regulations to polling stations.
Vote counting commenced promptly after the polls closed, with results anticipated around midnight. The NEC plans to formally approve the election results during a meeting scheduled between 7 a.m. and 9 a.m. following the count. As the election was held to replace Yoon, the new president will assume office immediately, with the inauguration expected to occur shortly thereafter.
Five candidates competed for the presidency, including Kwon Young-guk of the Democratic Labor Party and independent Song Jin-ho. Lee and Kim both prioritized economic growth and artificial intelligence in their campaigns, while also agreeing on constitutional revisions for presidential terms. However, their approaches to these revisions differ, with Kim proposing a shortened term to align with National Assembly elections, while Lee suggests a referendum for changes starting in 2030.