Rep. Lee Jun-seok, presidential candidate of the minor conservative New Reform Party, may have proven himself as a new political force in South Korea's conservative landscape, but he faces criticism for his refusal to merge candidacies with People Power Party candidate Kim Moon-soo. The merger between the youngest candidate in Korean history and Kim could have led to Lee Jae-myung's defeat, the conservatives believe. According to the National Election Commission, Kim and Lee secured 41.1 percent

The presidential victory of Lee Jae-myung has been cast as a "win for those who are not part of the establishment, and outside the mainstream" by the Democratic Party of Korea. Lee's political journey that culminated with his being elected president has been rocky and drama-filled, to say the least. "It's not easy working for Lee Jae-myung. Things always seem to happen to him. But he is a guy who gets up every time," one of his close aides told The Korea Herald. At a campaign rally Saturday in D

Since South Korea’s democratization in 1987, power has swung back and forth between conservative and progressive forces with a certain rhythm — roughly every decade. These shifts have often been triggered by public discontent over corruption, economic crises, and leadership scandals. In more recent years, however, that rhythm has noticeably accelerated, signaling an era of increasingly unpredictable and chaotic politics. With conservative President Yoon Suk Yeol removed from office in April, an

Rep. Lee Jun-seok, the presidential candidate of the minor conservative New Reform Party, accepted his third-place finish on Tuesday but said he had no regrets about not uniting candidacies with the People Power Party’s Kim Moon-soo. “If the current result stands, Lee Jae-myung will take office. Given the immense challenges of national unity and economic recovery, I hope he makes thoughtful and appropriate decisions,” Lee said at the National Assembly in Yeouido, Seoul, after exit polls were rel

South Koreans went to the polls Tuesday to elect a new president, hoping to turn the page on months of political turmoil and deepening national division. The election, held nearly two years ahead of schedule, was triggered by the impeachment and subsequent removal of President Yoon Suk Yeol, whose failed attempt to invoke martial law last year plunged the country into crisis. The vote also ends a 171-day leadership vacuum following Yoon’s suspension from power by parliament on December 14 and hi

More than 79 percent of eligible voters had cast their ballots by the time polls closed on Tuesday, marking the highest turnout since the 1997 presidential election, according to the National Election Commission. The polls were open between 6 a.m. and 8 p.m. on Election Day — two hours longer than usual, as stipulated for early elections. Including last week's two days of early voting, 35,240,416 out of 44,391,871 eligible voters cast their ballots, amounting to 79.4 percent, the NEC reported. T

Exactly six months after the tense night of martial law on Dec. 3, South Koreans head to the polls today to elect a new president. Polling stations opened at 6 a.m. across the country and will close two hours later than usual at 8 p.m. due to the extraordinary nature of today's vote. The by-election was triggered by the impeachment of former President Yoon Suk Yeol after his attempt to invoke emergency military rule — an extraordinary measure last used in 1980 — led to the conservative leader’s

Minor presidential hopefuls including Kwon Young-guk of the Democratic Labor Party and Song Jin-ho, an independent, are set to appear on the final ballot in Tuesday’s election — despite polling in the low single digits and holding little prospect of victory. Kwon, an engineer-turned-human rights lawyer, is better known for his legal advocacy than for his political profile. Nicknamed the “street lawyer,” he has represented victims in some of South Korea’s most high-profile labor disputes and civi

With just a day left before the 21st presidential election, polling stations set up in unconventional locations — not the usual public schools and community centers — are drawing public interest. According to Article 147 of the Public Official Election Act, polling stations are to be primarily set up at schools, district offices and community centers for the convenience of voters. However, if publicly owned spaces are not available, they can be hosted by private facilities. During the parliament

One day ahead of South Korea’s presidential election, Rep. Lee Jun-seok, the presidential candidate of the minor New Reform Party, made clear Monday that he would not join forces with the ruling People Power Party’s Kim Moon-soo. Despite weeks of speculation and mounting calls for conservative unification, Lee declared that no merger would take place, and that he would stay in the race through the end. “Based on detailed polling and data analysis, Kim Moon-soo has already clearly lost,” Lee wrot