The new president will face the challenge of unification a nation that is still shaken in the last developments, as is an export-oriented economy that recovered from unpredictable protectionist moves of the United States – the main trade partner and security allies.
High turnout is expected – polls are open from 6 am local time, and citizens can vote by 20 hours.
During the early voting on Thursday and Friday, more than a third of 44.39 million voters have already used their right to vote.
According to the National Election Commission, until 7 am at 14,295 polls across the country voted 1.08 million citizens, which represents a 2.4 percent of the electorate.
Leading candidates ended last night a three-week campaign, during which they visited the country and promised to leave the political crises behind them and bring a new momentum of the stunning economy.
And Liberal Favorite Lee Jae-Myung and Kim Moon-Soo promised changes, emphasizing that the political system and the economic model established during the growth of the country as young democracies and industrial forces are no longer appropriate.
Their innovation plans often overlap – Lee advocates greater social equality and help families with low and medium-sized revenues, while Kim emphasizes the need to enable more freedoms.
Despite all economic and social initiatives, Yoon’s failed attempt to introduce an emergency remains the dominant theme of these elections.
Lee called the elections “Dani Judgment” for Kim and his National Power Party (PPP), accusing them that they allowed Yoon’s move because they did not make enough prevent it. Kim was Yoon’s Minister of Labor when he was 3. December declared a state of emergency.
On the other hand, Kim called Lee “a dictator”, and his Democratic Party “monster”, warning them, if a former human rights lawyer becomes a president, nothing to change the laws at their own will.
According to surveys since last week, Lee is a favorite with 49 percent of public support and has an advantage of as many as 14 percentage points in relation to Kim, although Kim managed to reduce the beginning of the campaign.
Outgoing surveys will be published after closing the polls.
The ballots will first be sorted and counted using machines, and then elective officials will check them three times manually. It is not yet known when the final election results will be published.
In the presidential elections in 2022, Lee was about 3 o’clock, the day after the vote, admitted defeat and Yoon’s victory in the most unexpected presidential race in the history of the Earth, decided with less than one percentage points.
The National Election Commission plans to officially confirm the results on Wednesday, and the inauguration of the winner will be held within a few hours. There will be no handover of duty because the function remained vacant after Yoon revoked and removed.
(Vijesti.ba / Hina)
