South Koreans rally for presidential hopefuls days before vote

Seoul – Supporters of South Korea’s two leading presidential candidates rallied on May 31 in Seoul, days ahead of a vote triggered by the former leader’s disastrous declaration of martial law.

The June 3 election caps months of political turmoil sparked by Yoon Suk Yeol’s brief suspension of civilian rule in December, for which he was impeached and removed from office.

South Korea has since been led by a series of lame-duck acting presidents as its export-driven economy grapples with trade turmoil abroad and sluggish demand at home.

All major polls have placed liberal Lee Jae-myung well ahead in the presidential race, with a recent Gallup survey showing 49 per cent of respondents viewed him as the best candidate.

Mr Kim Moon-soo, from the ruling People Power Party (PPP) that Yoon left in May, trailed behind at 35 per cent.

Organisers from both camps have told police they expect tens of thousands of supporters to rally in Seoul’s central Gwanghwamun Square and the southern Seocho neighbourhood on May 31 afternoon.

In Seocho, in the south of the capital, Lee supporters gathered holding signs condemning Yoon’s “insurrection”.

“I believe the outcome of the presidential election is already decided,” Mr Lee Kyung-joon told AFP.

“I came to today’s rally to help condemn the forces involved in the martial law attempt,” he added, referring to former president Yoon’s political allies.

Yoon is on trial for insurrection, and Mr Kwon Oh-hyeok, one of the organisers of the rally, said a Lee Jae-myung victory in the June 3 vote was crucial to holding Yoon accountable.

“Isn’t the People Power Party’s decision to run in the snap election – triggered by Yoon’s removal from office – an insult and a betrayal of the people?” Mr Kwon told rally participants.

“Fellow citizens, we must win by a landslide to deliver the justice this moment demands.”

On the other side of town, in Gwanghwamun Square, conservatives – including supporters of the disgraced Yoon – filled the streets holding signs that read “Yoon again” and “Early voting is invalid”.

Yoon’s martial law attempt, which he claimed was necessary to “root out” pro-North Korean, “anti-state” forces, emboldened a wave of extreme supporters, including far-right YouTubers and radical religious figures.

Many have spread unverified content online, including allegations of Chinese espionage and fraud within South Korea’s electoral system.

That sentiment was on full display at the May 31 rally, where protesters called for the dissolution of the National Election Commission over a series of mishaps during the two-day early voting period this week.

“People believe the root of all these problems lies with the National Election Commission, and that it should be held accountable,” conservative protester Rhee Kang-san told AFP.

Deepening polarisation

Both front runner Lee of the liberal Democratic Party and conservative challenger Kim have cast the race as a battle for the soul of the country.

Over a third of those eligible have already cast their ballots in early voting, according to Seoul’s National Election Commission.

Overseas voting reached a record high, with nearly four-fifths of the 1.97 million eligible voters casting their ballots last week.

Lawyer turned politician Lee has pledged to bring those behind the martial law declaration to justice and told supporters they are voting for “revolution”.

And former labour minister Kim – who rose to fame when he refused to bow in apology for that bid to suspend civilian rule – has vowed to defend the country from “extremist forces” seeking “chaos”.

Experts say that regardless of who wins, South Korea’s polarisation is likely to deepen.

If Lee wins, the conservatives “will do whatever it takes to undermine him and his government, whether their logic makes sense or not”, political analyst Park Sang-byung told AFP.

“Unless the PPP distances itself from Yoon’s extremist base, it could turn to misinformation – such as unfounded claims of election fraud – to mobilise the right against Lee. That’s a troubling prospect,” he said.

Whoever succeeds Yoon will have to grapple with a deepening economic downturn, one of the world’s lowest birth rates and a soaring cost of living.

He will also have to navigate a mounting superpower stand-off between the United States, South Korea’s traditional security guarantor, and China, its largest trade partner. AFP