Voters in South Korea head to the polls today in a snap presidential election called after the Constitutional Court unanimously removed Yoon Suk-yeol from office on May 29. The vote is the most consequential in a generation — and one shadowed by violence.
Lee Jae-myung of the Democratic Party, who leads in every published poll, survived a knife attack at Busan City Hall on May 31 — just three days before election day. He suffered slash wounds to his neck and was hospitalised, but has continued his campaign from a ward. His doctors say he is stable and able to vote. Video of the attack — a suspect lunging from a crowd at a press conference and slashes Lee across the neck — spread rapidly across Korean social media, deepening public shock.
The suspect, a man in his 50s, was detained immediately. Police have not disclosed a motive. Lee’s party called it a politically motivated attack; opposition figures across the spectrum condemned it. President acting as caretaker Han Duck-soo called for calm.
Kim Moon-heung of the People Power Party — whose own candidacy has been complicated by Yoon’s removal — trails Lee significantly in the final polls. PPP insiders acknowledge the assassination attempt has shifted sympathy toward Lee. A third candidate, former judge Kim Yeong-sum, has gained some centripetal support but remains well behind.
The election is being watched closely by North Korea, which sent a short-range ballistic missile test on May 30 that landed in the Sea of Japan — its first provocation since Yoon’s removal. Beijing and Washington are both monitoring the outcome closely.
Polling stations opened at 6 AM local time (2100 UTC May 31) and close at 6 PM. Exit poll data is expected within minutes of the last ballot. A formal result from the National Election Commission is expected by midnight.
Kenji Tanaka, Media Hook — Asia Pacific