South Korea’s early presidential election, scheduled for June 3, has officially begun with a confirmed three-way race, as candidates embark on a 22-day campaign tour across the country.
The National Election Commission closed candidate registration at 6 p.m. on the 11th and announced the final list. The ballot numbers have been assigned as follows: No. 1 Lee Jae-myung (Democratic Party), No. 2 Kim Moon-soo (People Power Party), No. 4 Lee Jun-seok (Reform Party), No. 5 Kwon Young-guk (Democratic Labor Party), No. 6 Gu Ju-wa (Liberal Unification Party), No. 7 Hwang Kyo-ahn (Independent), and No. 8 Song Jin-ho (Independent).
On the first day of registration, May 10, six candidates—Lee Jae-myung, Lee Jun-seok, Kwon Young-guk, Gu Ju-wa, Song Jin-ho, and Hwang Kyo-ahn—completed the process. Kim Moon-soo finalized his candidacy on the last day, completing the final lineup.
From May 12 to June 2, all registered candidates will participate in 22 days of official campaigning leading up to Election Day.
Lee Jae-myung Launches 'Revolution of Light' Campaign with Emphasis on Science and Agriculture
Democratic Party candidate Lee Jae-myung kicked off his campaign at 10 a.m. on May 12 with a rally in Seoul’s Cheonggye Plaza, branded as the “Revolution of Light.” His campaign tour will continue through Pangyo, Dongtan, and Daejeon, highlighting semiconductor and high-tech initiatives under the so-called "K-Initiative Belt."
Key pledges include: revision of the Grain Management Act to promote crop diversification and stabilize food prices; expansion of direct subsidies for farmers; a price stabilization system for agricultural goods; rural solar power initiatives like “Sunlight Pensions” and “Solar Income Villages”; ₩1 breakfast programs for students and workers; and food vouchers for unemployed youth.
The Democratic Party’s policy committee is set to unveil Lee’s official 10 key campaign pledges at the National Assembly at 11 a.m. on the same day.
Kim Moon-soo Begins Pre-Dawn Market Tour, Focuses on Economy, Youth, and GTX Expansion
People Power Party candidate Kim Moon-soo launched his campaign at 5 a.m. with a visit to Garak Market in Seoul’s Songpa District to connect with everyday voters. He later paid respects at the Daejeon National Cemetery and held a rally at Daegu’s Seomun Market to consolidate support among conservative voters amid calls for a candidate replacement.
Running on the slogan “Forward to a Greater Korea,” Kim’s first set of pledges includes transforming South Korea into a hub for AI and energy, building 100,000 youth housing units, opening and constructing GTX lines A through F, boosting middle-class wealth, and creating a deputy prime minister for science and technology.
Lee Jun-seok Starts in Yeosu, Emphasizing Science and Regional Balance
Reform Party candidate Lee Jun-seok began his campaign precisely at midnight on May 12 in Yeosu’s National Industrial Complex, where he unveiled reform policies tailored to industrial sites. As a STEM graduate, he positioned himself as the only candidate capable of navigating trade, diplomacy, and industrial policy holistically.
He highlighted the declining profitability of Yeosu’s petrochemical industry and called for a tech-based industrial strategy and diplomatic agility to counter Chinese dumping practices.
Lee plans to connect with youth voters at Yonsei University in Seoul during the day and hold a central campaign rally in Cheonggye Plaza that evening.
His key proposals include region-specific minimum wage adjustments (with up to 30% variation), industrial accident prevention policies (including a revision of the Serious Accidents Punishment Act), and metropolitan-focused youth policies (covering education, housing, and startups). Lee also emphasized the need for wage flexibility before labor flexibility and advocated for region- and generation-specific reforms.
The 21st presidential election will be held on June 3, with early voting available from May 29 to 30 between 6 a.m. and 6 p.m.
The elected president will serve a five-year term from June 4, 2025, to June 3, 2030. All citizens aged 18 and above on Election Day are eligible to vote.
Photo=Yonhap News, YouTube 'National Election Commission'"
