Seoul: Democratic Party (DP) candidate Lee Jae-myung was leading his People Power Party (PPP) rival, Kim, by 5.5 percentage points after 35 percent of the vote was counted in Tuesday's presidential election, as reported by the state election watchdog. Lee of the liberal DP had secured 48.62 percent of the vote compared to Kim's 43.08 percent, a gap narrower than projections by four surveys conducted at the close of polls. Lee Jun-seok of the New Reform Party trailed in third place with 7.27 percent.
According to Yonhap News Agency, a joint exit poll by broadcasters KBS, MBC, and SBS placed Lee at 51.7 percent and Kim at 39.3 percent. Additional polls by JTBC, Channel A, and MBN, conducted up to four days before Election Day, also projected Lee would secure around 50 percent of the vote against Kim's 38.9 percent to 41.7 percent. This election followed six months after former President Yoon Suk Yeol's surprise declaration of martial law, which evoked memories of past military regimes and led to a significant economic and political crisis.
The DP's Lee campaigned on overcoming the "insurrection forces" led by Yoon following his impeachment and subsequent removal from office before completing his five-year term. Meanwhile, Kim capitalized on Lee's ongoing trials and leadership style, promising a future free from "dictatorship." As exit poll results emerged, DP campaign officials celebrated, with Rep. Park Chan-dae expressing confidence in the people's judgment against the "insurrection regime." Conversely, PPP officials were visibly disappointed, with Rep. Na Kyung-won expressing shock over the significant gap.
The National Election Commission (NEC) noted that out of 44.39 million eligible voters, 35.24 million, or 79.4 percent, participated in the election, marking the highest turnout since 1997. The provisional tally included votes from 14,295 polling stations nationwide, covering early voting, overseas, shipboard, and absentee ballots. Voter interest was high, with 34.74 percent casting ballots during early voting, the second-highest figure since its introduction in 2014.
The closely watched vote involved 81 reports of alleged election law violations by 3 p.m., according to the Seoul Metropolitan Police. One incident included a red balloon with "President Kim Moon-soo," placed near a polling station where Yoon had voted. Election laws prohibit campaign activities within 100 meters of polling stations, with violations carrying fines or imprisonment.
Vote counting commenced shortly after polls closed at 8 p.m., with a winner expected around midnight, though the count will likely conclude by 6 a.m. Wednesday, as per the NEC. The NEC plans to convene a meeting to approve the results between 7 a.m. and 9 a.m. The new president will assume office immediately due to the election's timing to replace Yoon, with the inauguration likely occurring at the National Assembly.
The election featured five candidates after two withdrew during the campaign. Besides Lee Jae-myung, Kim, and Lee Jun-seok, candidates included Kwon Young-guk of the Democratic Labor Party and Song Jin-ho, an independent. Pre-blackout surveys indicated Lee's comfortable lead over Kim, though the gap narrowed. Both leading candidates prioritized economic growth, particularly in artificial intelligence, with differing approaches to security and constitutional revisions. Kim suggested shortening his term to align with National Assembly terms, while Lee advocated for a referendum on constitutional changes by 2030.