Seoul: Presidential candidates kicked off their official campaigns on Monday for the June 3 vote, emphasizing pledges to revive the nation's sluggish economy and unify the polarized society. Voters will head to the polls next month to elect a successor to former President Yoon Suk Yeol, who was ousted over a failed martial law bid.
According to Yonhap News Agency, opinion polls have shown that Democratic Party (DP) candidate Lee Jae-myung holds a solid lead. Lee is the front-runner, followed by People Power Party (PPP) candidate Kim Moon-soo, a former labor minister whose candidacy was confirmed two days ago after intraparty disagreements over a potential candidacy merger with former Prime Minister Han Duck-soo.
Lee Jae-myung has focused on appealing to swing voters with promises to improve the economy and the livelihoods of citizens. In contrast, Kim Moon-soo aims to consolidate conservative voters to mount a serious challenge to the DP candidate.
The election is seen as a three-way race among the DP's Lee Jae-myung, the PPP's Kim Moon-soo, and Lee Jun-seok of the minor New Reform Party. Lee Jun-seok, a Harvard University graduate and former leader of the PPP, has ruled out the possibility of merging campaigns with Kim Moon-soo.
Launching his campaign at Cheonggye Plaza in central Seoul, Lee Jae-myung described the upcoming election as "not just a battle between the DP and the PPP but a battle against the entrenched elite who have destroyed constitutional order and people's lives through the insurrection." He presented himself as a "prepared president," highlighting lessons learned from his previous electoral defeat and emphasizing his thorough preparation for this campaign.
Lee Jae-myung plans to visit the suburban cities of Seongnam and Hwaseong in Gyeonggi Province, as well as the central city of Daejeon, later in the day to engage with innovative industry workers and campaign on themes related to semiconductors and technology.