May 13, 2025
SEOUL – The 22-day sprint for South Korea’s presidency launched Monday, with the seven candidates vying to redefine the nation’s political future amid concerns over the stability of its democracy. With rallies, stump speeches and televised debates on the schedule, the next three weeks are expected to be charged with ideological differences and personal rivalries before ending with voters heading to the polls on June 3.
The early contours of the contest are emerging, with Lee Jae-myung of the main liberal Democratic Party of Korea holding a commanding lead in the polls. Meanwhile, Kim Moon-soo of the main conservative People Power Party is aiming for a late-stage comeback.
Lee Jun-seok, the upstart candidate of the minor conservative New Reform Party, is polling in the single digits, but has emerged as a wild card. While some speculate about a last-minute unification within the conservative bloc, Lee has firmly rejected the idea of stepping aside or joining forces with Kim.
In addition, Kwon Yeong-guk of the minor progressive Democratic Labor Party, Gu Ju-wa of the minor far-right Liberty Unification Party, independent candidate Hwang Kyo-ahn and independent candidate Song Jin-ho are also officially registered as presidential candidates.
In his first official campaign rally of the cycle as presidential candidate for the Democratic Party on Monday, Rep. Lee Jae-myung emphasized that restoring democracy would be his top priority in a country still reeling from the political upheaval caused by conservative former President Yoon Suk Yeol’s botched Dec. 3 martial law attempt and his subsequent removal from office.
“Our biggest goal is to restore democracy and peace in South Korea and revive the national economy,” Lee said before some 20,000 supporters, estimated by the Democratic Party, who gathered at a 7,000-square-meter open space at Cheonggye Plaza near Gwanghwamun Square in central Seoul.
Against the backdrop of a 20-meter-tall shell-shaped structure, Lee, 61, said he was facing off against remnants of the forces that led the insurrection, destroyed the constitutional order and undermined the domestic economy, in an apparent reference to the conservative People Power Party’s presidential candidate, Kim Moon-soo. Kim previously said he opposed Yoon’s martial law declaration, but he also opposed Yoon’s impeachment.
“The Dec. 3 insurrection pushed South Korea to the brink of a desperate crisis, which is still lingering,” said Lee, now in his third attempt to run for president and second time as the party’s nominee.
“The insurrection leader was put on trial and stripped of the presidency, but the remnants of the (Yoon-led) insurrection are still continuing to resist. However, it is certain that their insurrection cannot succeed,” he said, adding that the June 3 election is a moment that can “save the country.”
Lee’s speech came at a time when South Korea has been seeing deeper political polarization, combined with widening socioeconomic disparities, Lee said, wearing a white bulletproof vest. The Democratic Party pointed to death threats against Lee, who survived an assassination attempt by a man who stabbed him in the neck in January 2024.
Describing himself as a presidential candidate “aspiring to eradicate the aftereffects of insurrection to overcome a national crisis and pursue the people’s happiness,” Lee said his victory in the June 3 election will “end the era of rulers,” and the country’s political crisis will give way to “a democratic republic where the country’s capability will be properly used for the happiness of the people.”
Lee’s public speech came as South Korea entered the 22-day official campaign period for the June 3 election, with election authorities permitting the use of loudspeakers and megaphones between 7 a.m. and 9 p.m. until June 2.
The speech followed the Democratic Party’s kickoff ceremony for its official campaign earlier Monday, occasionally featuring upbeat K-pop songs altered for election purposes, as well as dance performances by party members to fire up the atmosphere.
For this year’s event, the main liberal party, which holds 170 parliamentary seats out of the National Assembly’s 300, moved to mark the Gwanghwamun neighborhood in downtown Seoul as the symbol of democracy.
The 43,000-square-meter open space stretches from the front gate of the old palace of Gyeongbokgung to Cheonggye Plaza, the origin point of the Cheonggye Stream, which extends eastward into Seoul’s downtown.
The decision of Lee’s camp to launch his official campaign activities at Gwanghwamun Square was meant to “heal South Korea, which has been wounded in the (Yoon-led) insurrection,” said Rep. Lee Jae-jung of the Democratic Party, a three-term lawmaker, on Thursday.
People Power Party presidential candidate Kim Moon-soo on Monday kicked off his official election campaign with a visit to a traditional market in Seoul, following a tumultuous, drama-filled weekend with the People Power Party leadership and former Prime Minister Han Duck-soo.
Though the party’s leadership had sought to replace Kim throughout last week, Kim, who secured the nomination by triumphing through multiple rounds of party primaries, eventually was able to register his candidacy with the National Election Commission on Sunday. In an all-member meeting on Saturday night, the party voted down a predawn motion pushed by the party’s leadership to replace him with Han.
Kim visited Garak Market in eastern Seoul in the early hours of the day to interact with street vendors and small business owners who deal with wholesale agriculture and fishery products. Donning a red campaign jacket, he shook hands and spoke with several street vendors who cheered him on. He ate breakfast with them and listened to the problems they were experiencing with their businesses.
“South Korea has entered a phase of a prolonged economic slowdown — because of this, I can see the difficult reality that small business and restaurant owners are facing,” Kim told reporters outside the market.
“Which is why I believe I need to become a president that invigorates markets, livelihoods and the economy,” he added.
Kim was scheduled to visit Daejeon National Cemetery to pay respect to veterans who sacrificed their lives defending South Korea against North Korea’s attacks in the western sea. He was then to travel to the conservative stronghold of Daegu to rally voters.
Meanwhile, Han on Monday reportedly turned down Kim’s offer to take on the position of his campaign leader.
Lee Jun-seok, aiming to position himself as the voice of “young conservatives,” began his campaign in the Democratic Party’s stronghold of South Jeolla Province, focusing on policies for youth and future generations.
He visited the Yeosu National Industrial Complex, calling it the “perfect place” to express his resolve. Later, in a press conference, Lee rejected any potential merger with the main conservative People Power Party, saying that doing so would be a “nationwide deception,” reaffirming his commitment to his own direct, bold approach.
In the afternoon, Lee continued his grassroots outreach by dining with students at Yonsei University.
consnow@heraldcorp.com
mkjung@heraldcorp.com