South Korea Sees Record Early Voting Turnout Ahead of June 3 Presidential Election

South Korea is witnessing unprecedented early voter turnout ahead of its snap presidential election scheduled for June 3, 2025. As of late Thursday morning, approximately 7% of the nation's 44.39 million eligible voters had cast their ballots, marking the highest early turnout in a presidential election to date.

The election follows months of political turmoil, including a failed attempt by former President Yoon Suk Yeol to impose martial law, leading to a power vacuum. The liberal Democratic Party's candidate, Lee Jae-myung, who was polling at 49% before the blackout period, cast his vote in Seoul and urged citizens to participate in shaping the nation's future.

Lee has proposed significant reforms, such as establishing a Ministry of Climate and Energy and reorganizing the Ministry of Gender Equality to address pressing societal issues. His main conservative rival, Kim Moon-soo of the People Power Party, trails at 35% and has been unable to consolidate conservative support by persuading New Reform Party candidate Lee Jun-seok, polling at 11%, to exit the race.

The election occurs amidst economic challenges, with the Bank of Korea lowering interest rates and cutting the 2025 growth forecast from 1.5% to 0.8%. The record early voting turnout reflects heightened public engagement and the critical nature of this election in determining South Korea's political and economic trajectory.