Campaigning officially began Monday for South Korea’s presidential election, set for June 3, following the impeachment of former President Yoon Suk Yeol over an attempted imposition of martial law. The race marks an effort to restore stability after months of political unrest.
Over the next 22 days, six certified candidates will campaign nationwide, often accompanied by loud K-pop remixes and energetic performances by uniformed staff.
Leading the race is Democratic Party candidate Lee Jae-myung, who holds a commanding 43% in polls. Launching his campaign in central Seoul, Lee—who narrowly lost to Yoon in 2022—thanked supporters for their continued faith and pledged to win this time.
The conservative People Power Party (PPP), plagued by internal strife, has named former labor minister Kim Moon-soo as its candidate after a contentious nomination process.
Kim, polling at around 29%, started his campaign at a local market, promising to be a president focused on citizens’ daily lives and economic wellbeing.
Kim’s candidacy was revoked and then reinstated within days as the PPP leadership attempted to replace him with former Prime Minister Han Duck-soo.
The party’s internal divisions have raised concerns among supporters and analysts, many of whom now see the race favoring Lee.
“The PPP is falling apart,” said Lee Jung-ja, a long-time PPP voter who witnessed Lee’s campaign kickoff. “Even united, they wouldn’t stand a chance like this.”
Political analysts say the conservative camp’s deep divisions, combined with the impeachment of its last two presidents—Park Geun-hye and Yoon—signal a wider crisis. According to Seoul National University professor Kang Won-taek, the election could evolve into a one-sided contest unless the opposition can unify. He warned the PPP may be unsustainable in its current form.
