Seoul: Candidates started their official campaigning Monday for the June 3 presidential election, with polls showing that Democratic Party (DP) candidate Lee Jae-myung has led the race. Opinion surveys have indicated that voters are likely to end three years of conservative rule after former President Yoon Suk Yeol was ousted over his failed martial law bid in December.
According to Yonhap News Agency, Lee is the front-runner, trailed by People Power Party (PPP) candidate Kim Moon-soo, a former labor minister whose candidacy was confirmed only two days ago following intraparty strife over a potential candidacy merger with former Prime Minister Han Duck-soo. Lee has been focusing on attracting swing voters with promises to improve the economy and enhance people's livelihoods, whereas Kim is expected to rally conservative voters in his bid to challenge the DP candidate.
Seven candidates made their bids official during a two-day registration period that concluded on Sunday. Lee of the DP launched his campaign at Cheonggye Plaza in central Seoul before traveling to the suburban cities of Seongnam and Hwaseong in Gyeonggi Province, and the central city of Daejeon. Meanwhile, Kim of the PPP began his campaign by visiting Garak Market in southern Seoul and plans to visit a national cemetery in Daejeon and a traditional market in Daegu, a conservative stronghold, later in the day.
Candidates and their campaign teams are permitted to give speeches in public places between 7 a.m. and 11 p.m., distribute leaflets and other campaign materials, and put up campaign banners during the official campaign period. A total of seven individuals have registered their candidacies with the National Election Commission, the election watchdog.
Lee was assigned candidate No. 1, followed by No. 2 for Kim and No. 4 for Lee Jun-seok of the minor New Reform Party. By law, candidate numbers are assigned according to the number of seats a party holds in the National Assembly, starting with the party with the most seats. No. 3 was left vacant as the Rebuilding Korea Party did not field a candidate, while Nos. 5-8 were allocated to two minor party candidates and two independents.
The election, prompted by the impeachment of former President Yoon over his failed martial law bid in December, is shaping up to be a contest primarily between the DP's Lee and Kim. According to a Realmeter poll released Sunday, the DP's Lee garnered 52.1 percent support compared with Kim's 31.1 percent in the hypothetical three-way race that also included the New Reform Party's Lee.