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South Korea's Presidential Election: Lee Jae Myung Emerges as Clear Favourite

Strategic Insights

— 1 min read

The latest Gallup Korea poll indicates that Democratic Party candidate Lee Jae Myung is the favourite to win South Korea's upcoming presidential election, slated for June 3. With 49% of the public's support, Lee Jae Myung holds a significant 14 percentage point lead over his main conservative rival, Kim Moon Soo of the People Power Party, who has 35% support. The election aims to replace Yoon Suk Yeol, who was impeached and ousted for trying to impose martial law in December last year, plunging the country into unprecedented turmoil.

Key Takeaways:

  • Lee Jae Myung, the 61-year-old Democratic Party candidate, enjoys 49% of the public's support in the latest Gallup Korea poll, 14 percentage points ahead of his main conservative rival Kim Moon Soo of the People Power Party, who has 35% support.
  • Lee Jae Myung's position as favourite has held firm since the beginning of the election campaign on May 12, with a previous 20 percentage point lead in polls.
  • The election aims to replace Yoon Suk Yeol, who was impeached and ousted for trying to impose martial law in December last year.
  • Lee Jae Myung narrowly lost to Yoon Suk Yeol in the 2022 presidential election with a margin of 0.7% of the votes polled.
  • Lee Jae Myung has been in the news for his outspoken views and anti-elitist stance, promising to create a "real Republic of Korea" with jobs and a fair society.
  • Kim Moon Soo, a former labour minister under Yoon's administration, has been polling higher than other conservative contenders after he criticised the arrest of Yoon and the impeachment hearings conducted by the Constitutional Court.

Statistics:

  • 49% of the public support Lee Jae Myung in the latest Gallup Korea poll, 14 percentage points ahead of Kim Moon Soo's 35%.
  • Lee Jae Myung holds a 20 percentage point lead in previous polls.
  • 0.7% is the margin by which Lee Jae Myung lost to Yoon Suk Yeol in the 2022 presidential election.
  • 11% of the public support the New Reform Party's Lee Jun Seok, according to the Gallup poll.

Sources:

  • Gallup Korea
  • Reuters
  • AP
  • The Presidential Leadership Institute
  • Kim Tong-hyung, "South Korea Votes Amid Fears of Pandemic-Led Economic Downfall," The New York Times, May 12, 2022.
  • Ye Ji-Hyun, "Yoon Suk-yeol to Form New Party, Free from the Influence of Others," The Korea Times, January 20, 2023.

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