The conservative camp sees good chances for a change of power: After five years, President Moon Jae In cannot run again. The election is overshadowed by an increase in corona numbers.
Overshadowed by a sharp increase in new infections with the corona virus, the election of a new president has started in South Korea.
Almost 44.2 million voters are called upon to determine the successor to the moderate left-wing politician Moon Jae In. Moon cannot run again after his five-year term. Polls over the past few weeks have pointed to a close race between ruling Democratic Party candidate Lee Jae Myung and conservative candidate Yoon Suk Yeol. The new head of state begins his term in May.
The presidential election is of enormous importance for the fourth largest economy in Asia. In the country’s presidential system, almost all important decisions are passed through the head of state.
Low turnout
Five hours after the polling stations opened at 6 a.m. (local time), according to the state election commission, turnout was 16 percent – lower than in the election five years ago. However, almost 37 percent of those entitled to vote had already made their decision by voting early in the past week.
The 61-year-old Yoon sees good chances of another change of power after the right-wing conservatives suffered a clear defeat in the previous election in May 2017. Yoon, who was Attorney General until March 2021, is considered a political newcomer. He is running for the largest opposition party, the People’s Power Party (PPP).
His biggest rival, Lee, has set himself the goal of renewing the politics of the deeply divided country. The 57-year-old, who is committed to introducing an unconditional basic income, was governor of the northwestern province of Gyeonggi until October.
International Relations
In addition to the course of economic policy in the next five years, the election also deals with dealing with the communist leadership in North Korea, cooperation with the ally USA and the difficult relationship with Japan. South Korea also finds itself in a difficult position in the trade war between the USA and China.
Like Moon, despite the dispute over North Korea’s nuclear weapons program, Lee wants to continue to approach the neighboring country and pursue new approaches. Yoon, who accuses the incumbent government of failing to deal with North Korea, is expected to take a tougher stance against Pyongyang.
Meanwhile, the number of corona infections is rising sharply. According to health authorities, the number of cases recorded daily exceeded 300,000 for the first time on Tuesday. As in the 2020 parliamentary elections, voters must wear mouth and nose protection, put on disposable protective gloves and have their fever measured at the entrance to the polling booths. In order to also allow infected people to vote, the polling stations should remain open for an hour and a half after the otherwise regular closing at 6:00 p.m. (10:00 a.m. CET). First results are expected during the night or early Thursday morning.
Source: Stern
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