South Korea heads into snap presidential election

(MENAFN) A record surge in early voter turnout has highlighted South Koreans’ desire for political change as the nation heads into a snap presidential election, hastily arranged in the aftermath of a failed martial law bid.

On the first day of early voting, turnout hit 19.58%, surpassing the previous presidential election’s early voting record of 17.57% in 2022. With another day remaining, projections suggest final early turnout could exceed the all-time high of 36.93%.

This heightened political engagement follows a rare and dramatic political crisis. In December 2024, then-President Yoon Suk-yeol, facing mounting unrest, declared martial law in a controversial move that was swiftly overturned by the National Assembly within hours. The backlash was swift and severe: Yoon was detained and indicted in January as a suspected ringleader of insurrection. Though released in March, he was formally removed from office by the Constitutional Court in April.

The June 3 by-election has thus become a powerful symbol of democratic reckoning. Analysts say the rush to vote reflects public anger, anxiety, and a strong will to restore political legitimacy through constitutional means.

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