- Lee Jae-myung of the Democratic Party of Korea secured a resounding presidential victory, exit polls and near-final counts confirmed – a decisive mandate to heal South Korea after six months of instability under ousted leader Yoon Suk Yeol.
SEOUL, June 03 — Opposition candidate Lee Jae-myung of the liberal Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) is projected to win South Korea’s snap presidential election, according to a joint exit poll released Tuesday by major broadcasters KBS, MBC, and SBS. The poll showed Lee securing 51.7% of the vote, decisively defeating conservative rival Kim Moon-soo (39.3%) of the People Power Party (PPP) and minor Reform Party candidate Lee Jun-seok (7.7%).
Election Dynamics
The poll, based on 100,000 voters surveyed at 325 polling stations and supplemented by 11,500 phone interviews to capture early voting trends, revealed stark demographic divides:
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Regional: Lee dominated 13 of 17 major regions, while Kim held traditional conservative strongholds (Busan, Daegu, North/South Gyeongsang).
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Age: Lee led among voters under 60 (late teens–50s), while Kim prevailed with those 60+.
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Gender: Lee secured 55.1% of female voters versus Kim’s 39.2%, and 48.3% of male voters against Kim’s 39.4%.
Voter turnout reached 79.4%—a 2.3-point increase from the 2022 election—boosted by record early voting (34.74% participation). Early ballot counts at 11:30 p.m. aligned with exit polls, showing Lee at 48.62% and Kim at 43.08%.
Victory Amid Controversy
Lee’s likely victory follows months of political chaos triggered by former President Yoon Suk Yeol’s abrupt December 3 martial law declaration during clashes with opposition lawmakers. The National Assembly swiftly revoked the decree and impeached Yoon, with the Constitutional Court removing him from office on April 4. This created a power vacuum and fueled public demand for change.
Addressing supporters en route to DPK headquarters, Lee acknowledged the weight of his mandate: “While counting continues, I offer my deepest respect to the people for their remarkable decision… I embrace this great responsibility.”
DPK floor leader Park Chan-dae framed the result as “a thunderous verdict against a regime of rebellion,” attributing Lee’s lead to public rejection of Yoon’s administration.
Conservative Concession
At PPP headquarters, the mood turned somber as exit polls showed Kim trailing by double digits. Co-campaign chair Na Kyung-won called the result “deeply disappointing,” citing late campaign mobilization and failure to publicize “revelations about Lee’s true nature.” Senior PPP figures exited the situation room within minutes of the poll’s release.
Transition Under Pressure
With final results expected by midnight, Lee faces an unprecedented immediate transition:
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Inauguration: A pared-down ceremony will occur Wednesday at the National Assembly’s Rotunda Hall, mirroring Moon Jae-in’s 2017 swift oath-taking after Park Geun-hye’s impeachment.
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Cabinet: Key appointments (e.g., Prime Minister) will be announced as early as Wednesday to fill the leadership void.
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Logistics: Lee will operate from the Yongsan presidential office due to security constraints.
The president-elect assumes office amid ongoing criminal investigations and inherits a nation polarized by Yoon’s martial law attempt—justified by his administration as necessary to address “election fraud allegations” and opposition impeachment efforts.
