South Korea Votes for New President Amid Fallout from Martial Law Crisis

South Koreans began casting their votes on Tuesday to elect a new president, marking the culmination of a tumultuous six-month political crisis triggered by former President Yoon Suk Yeol’s controversial imposition of martial law.

At dawn, elderly voters were already lining up outside polling stations, determined to make their voices heard. “We were the first to arrive with the hope that our candidate gets elected,” said 80-year-old Yu Bun-dol in Seoul’s Munrae-dong district. “The presidential election is the most important.”

This special election follows Yoon’s impeachment after his declaration of martial law, which saw soldiers occupy parliament in a failed attempt to suppress dissent.

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The constitutional crisis not only unseated Yoon, but also left South Korea effectively without a functioning government for the early months of U.S. President Donald Trump’s second term — a rare and destabilizing moment in one of Asia’s leading democracies.

According to the National Election Commission, over a third of eligible voters had already participated during two days of early voting last week — a sign of how high the political stakes are.

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Liberal candidate Lee Jae-myung has emerged as the clear frontrunner. Recent polling from Gallup Korea showed Lee commanding 49% support, with his closest challenger, conservative Kim Moon-soo of the People Power Party (Yoon’s former party), trailing with 35%.

Political analysts point to the backlash from Yoon’s actions and the broader crisis of leadership as the dominant themes driving voter sentiment. Kim Moon-soo’s inability to unite the conservative vote — after failing to form a coalition with Reform Party candidate Lee Jun-seok — has further narrowed his path to victory.

Tuesday’s vote is expected to shape the future direction of South Korea, both domestically and on the international stage. With tensions high and memories of political chaos still fresh, many citizens see this election not just as a democratic exercise, but as a referendum on accountability, leadership, and the resilience of their institutions.