SEOUL, 3rd June, 2025 (WAM) -- Korean voters headed to the polls on Tuesday to cast their ballots in the country’s 21st presidential election, with the main contest between Lee Jae-myung, the candidate of the liberal Democratic Party, and Kim Moon-soo, the candidate of the conservative People Power Party.
The vote comes exactly six months after former President Yoon Suk Yeol declared martial law in a surprise move that led to his departure from office. The new president will take office immediately without a transition period.
Voter turnout for Korea's presidential election has surpassed the 60 percent mark, seven hours after voting began earlier Tuesday, Yonhap News Agency reported, citing the election watchdog, a figure that includes results from the early voting.
Of the total 44.39 million eligible voters nationwide, 27.56 million had cast their ballots as of 1 pm, according to the National Election Commission (NEC). Voting began at 6 am at 14,295 polling stations across the country.