Overview

• More than 8.7 million voters, or 19.58% of eligible voters, cast early ballots on the first day, setting a new first-day turnout record.
• Gallup Korea’s final poll before the blackout placed Democratic Party candidate Lee Jae-myung at 49% support, maintaining a double-digit lead over People Power Party rival Kim Moon-soo.
• Kim Moon-soo has been unable to persuade New Reform Party contender Lee Jun-seok to merge campaigns, ensuring a three-way contest on Election Day.
• The snap election follows Yoon Suk-yeol’s impeachment over his failed martial law decree, with contenders urging voters to judge the resilience of South Korea’s democracy.
• The next president will confront a weak growth outlook after the Bank of Korea’s surprise rate cut and must address economic and security challenges, prompting policy pledges such as Lee’s proposed Ministry of Climate and Energy.