Presidential Election Campaign Heats Up in South Korea's Greater Seoul Area

Strategic Insights -

As the June 3 presidential election approaches, Democratic Party (DP) candidate Lee Jae-myung and People Power Party (PPP) candidate Kim Moon-soo are intensifying their campaigns in the greater Seoul area, a region home to about half of the population of 52 million. The two candidates are seeking to reach out to centrist voters and gain an edge in the polls, with Lee currently leading Kim according to recent opinion polls.

Key Takeaways:

  • Lee Jae-myung and Kim Moon-soo are campaigning in the greater Seoul area, a key battleground in the presidential election, with Lee seeking to appeal to centrist voters and consolidate his lead in the polls.
  • A Realmeter survey released this week showed Lee garnered 50.2 percent support, trailed by Kim with 35.6 percent and Lee Jun-seok of the minor New Reform Party (NRP) with 8.7 percent.
  • Lee held virtual talks with Korean expatriates living abroad to encourage overseas voting, which takes place for a week starting Tuesday, and emphasized the importance of voting in a democratic republic.
  • Lee's campaign itinerary included visits to Uijeongbu, Goyang, Paju, and Gimpo, where he will present his vision for transforming Goyang into a "global content hub" and promoting inter-Korean cooperation.
  • Kim Moon-soo continued his campaign in Seoul, visiting a traditional market and meeting with "jjokbang" residents, or those living in tiny rooms often found in shantytowns, to learn about their challenges and vulnerable living conditions.
  • Kim is striving to win over centrist voters and consolidate anti-Lee Jae-myung sentiment, while keeping the door open for a candidacy merger with Lee Jun-seok of the NRP to challenge the DP's Lee.

Statistics:

  • The greater Seoul area is home to about half of the population of 52 million.
  • Lee gathered 50.2 percent support in a recent Realmeter survey.
  • Kim received 35.6 percent support in the same survey.
  • Lee Jun-seok of the NRP received 8.7 percent support in the survey.
  • Overseas voting takes place for a week starting Tuesday.
  • Lee held virtual talks with Korean expatriates living abroad to encourage overseas voting.

Sources:

  • Yonhap News Agency, "Demcoratic Party candidate Lee Jae-myung kick-starts campaign in Gyeonggi Province" (20 May 2025)
  • Realmeter, "Presidential Election Opinion Poll" (Released this week, date unspecified)
  • Yonhap News Agency, "People Power Party candidate Kim Moon-soo continues campaign in Seoul" (20 May 2025)