What to Know About South Korea’s Elections
The New York Times • • general
Key Points:
- South Koreans are voting on Wednesday to elect mayors and provincial governors, with the election seen as a referendum on President Lee Jae Myung’s popularity and a critical test for the conservative opposition.
- Recent surveys indicate that President Lee’s center-left Democratic Party is favored to win a majority of the races, marking the first nationwide elections since he took office.
- Four years ago, the conservative People Power Party won the local elections decisively, but its support has plummeted following the controversial imposition of martial law by then-President Yoon Suk Yeol in late 2024, leading to his removal and life imprisonment on insurrection charges.
- Since assuming the presidency a year ago, Lee Jae Myung has gained popularity, aided by pragmatic diplomacy and a significant rally in the domestic stock market.