South Koreans voted in a high-stakes presidential election on Tuesday, aiming to restore political stability after months of turmoil that followed the impeachment and removal of President Yoon Suk Yeol. The early vote, nearly two years ahead of schedule, was called after Yoon’s controversial attempt to impose martial law in late 2024, threw the country into a constitutional crisis.
Yoon was suspended by the National Assembly in December and formally removed by the Constitutional Court on April 4, ending his presidency and triggering an election that has captivated a deeply divided nation.
Ballots were still being counted at press time. Voter turnout had reached 68.7% by midafternoon—the highest midday turnout for a presidential vote since direct elections began in 1987. Over 34% of registered voters cast their ballots early last week, marking the second-highest early turnout since the system was adopted in 2014.
A Short Campaign with High Stakes
The campaign lasted just 22 days, with five candidates promising to address political polarization, revive the struggling economy, and rebuild public trust in institutions.
Liberal Democratic Party candidate Lee Jae-myung held a narrow lead in final pre-election polling over conservative challenger Kim Moon-soo of the People Power Party. Kim had sought to unify conservatives through an anti-liberal coalition, but failed to consolidate support.
The winner will become South Korea’s 14th president since the founding of the republic in 1948. While economic and diplomatic priorities loom large, most observers agree that healing the domestic political divide will be the new leader’s most urgent challenge.
Polarization Undermines Governance
Years of political gridlock have stalled major legislation and undermined public confidence in democratic processes. According to a recent survey by the East Asia Institute, 69% of Democratic Party supporters reported “strong dislike” for the People Power Party, while 58.8% of conservatives said the same about liberals—both numbers significantly higher than four years ago.
The institute described the trend as a clear sign of democratic backsliding.
Public debate has also become increasingly fractured along gender lines, especially on issues such as military service and wage equality.
Moon Hyung-bae, former acting Chief Justice who presided over Yoon’s impeachment, recently noted that “restoring national unity will be the single most important task” for the next president. Speaking at a law school event, he warned that “democracy cannot thrive without mutual respect and meaningful limits on power.”
Demographic Strain Deepens
South Korea continues to face a steep demographic decline, despite a minor bump in its fertility rate. In 2024, the birth rate rose slightly from 0.72 to 0.75—a move seen by experts as statistically insignificant given the broader downward trend. Government programs such as housing subsidies for newlyweds and cash bonuses for new parents have yet to make a meaningful impact.
“The numbers remain well below replacement level,” said Choi Min-jung, a demography researcher at the Korea Institute for Health and Social Affairs. “We’re not just talking about fewer children—this is reshaping how families, schools, and even the labor force are structured.”
Meanwhile, the country is aging at one of the fastest rates in the developed world. More than one in five South Koreans are now over 65. Nearly 40% of them live below the poverty line, a figure that experts say reflects the limits of South Korea’s current pension and welfare system.
Talk of large-scale pension reform is growing, with some lawmakers pushing for higher employer contributions and phased retirement incentives to support the aging population, but any sweeping changes are likely to meet resistance amid a slow economy.
U.S. Alliance at a Turning Point
Tensions on the Korean Peninsula remain high. South Korean intelligence has raised fresh alarms over what it describes as increasing military and technological cooperation between North Korea and Russia. Officials say Pyongyang may be receiving assistance for both its satellite launches and its nuclear development programs.
At the same time, questions are mounting over the future of South Korea’s alliance with the United States. According to multiple reports, the Trump administration is reviewing a plan that could scale back the 28,500 American troops stationed in Korea, possibly redeploying some units to deter Chinese aggression near Taiwan.
“The strategic environment is changing fast,” said Lee Jin-wook, a former national security adviser. “South Korea will need to decide quickly where it stands in this realignment, especially if Washington begins demanding more military or financial support.”
Pressure is also growing over trade and defense cost-sharing. Several former U.S. officials have renewed calls for Seoul to increase its contributions, echoing past tensions during Trump’s first term.
Economic Challenges Ahead
Trade is also expected to test the incoming administration. A 90-day suspension on reciprocal tariffs from the United States expires on July 8. If no agreement is reached, key Korean exports such as steel may be subject to a 25% tariff, a potentially severe blow to the country’s export-dependent economy.
“The new president must move quickly to negotiate a resolution,” said Hwang Yong-sik, a business professor at Sejong University. “A failure to act could put thousands of jobs at risk and damage bilateral trade.”
What Comes Next?
With ballots still being counted, South Koreans and global observers are closely watching for the official result. The incoming president will inherit a fragile democracy, a fractured society, and a changing regional landscape.
Whoever takes office will face a daunting to-do list, but the first test may be simply reuniting a country that no longer agrees on what unity looks like.
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