People wait in a long line to cast their early votes for the June 3 presidential election near a polling station in Seoul, South Korea, May 29, 2025. (Photo by AP)
South Koreans have turned out in record numbers for early voting ahead of next week's snap presidential election after months of political crisis over a botched attempt to impose martial law.
Voting kicked off on Thursday at 3,568 polling stations nationwide for the country’s snap presidential election. The two-day early-voting period will end at 6 pm local time Friday (0900 GMT).
Several polling stations in the capital city of Seoul had long lines, local media reported.
Voters aim to elect a successor to former President Yoon Suk Yeol, who was ousted after his abortive attempt to invoke martial law in December to eliminate "anti-state forces" and North Korea sympathizers.
Six candidates are competing for the position, but two of them are hopeful of winning.
Observers say the competition is between the ruling People Power Party's Kim Moon-soo and Democratic Party (DP) candidate Lee Jae-myung.
Kim, a former labor minister, is running on an economic policy focused on deregulation, anti-North Korean foreign policy and tax breaks for the middle class.
His contender boasts a rags-to-riches story combined with a crowd-rousing political style that has made him the favorite candidate for working-class voters and those who feel disenfranchised by South Korea's political elite.
The new president is expected to serve a five-year term.