Lee Jae-myung leads polls as voters choose amid political upheaval, economic fears, and Trump’s tariff hike.
Millions of South Koreans are casting their ballots Tuesday in a high-stakes snap election, just months after former President Yoon Suk Yeol was impeached and removed from office for briefly imposing martial law in December. He now faces trial on rebellion charges.
Liberal candidate Lee Jae-myung is the clear frontrunner, riding a wave of public anger toward Yoon’s conservative camp. His main rival, Kim Moon Soo, has struggled to unite moderates as his party grapples with internal divisions and backlash over Yoon’s actions.
The new president will take office immediately on Wednesday, skipping the traditional two-month transition. Whoever wins will face mounting challenges, including a sluggish economy, rising tensions with North Korea, and a looming trade dispute as U.S. President Donald Trump prepares to raise steel and aluminum tariffs to 50% starting June 4.
More than 15 million people—nearly 35% of eligible voters—cast their ballots early during a two-day advance voting period. Final results are expected late Tuesday night.
Both Lee and Kim have pledged pragmatic diplomacy, supporting ties with the U.S. and regional partners. But analysts warn that financial markets and foreign policy space remain fragile amid Trump’s America-first policies.
Prospects for improving relations with North Korea appear slim, with Kim Jong Un ignoring diplomatic overtures and prioritizing ties with Russia. Lee has acknowledged a summit with the North is unlikely in the near future, though he supports renewed U.S.-North Korea dialogue.
The outcome of today’s vote will shape South Korea’s direction for the next five years—at a time of growing uncertainty both at home and abroad.
Russian drone strikes hit civilian sites across several Ukrainian regions overnight and on Sunday, leaving at least 12 people dead and more than a doz...
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Dmitry Medvedev said European countries have failed to defeat Russia in Ukraine and have instead inflicted serious economic damage on themselves, as h...
U.S. President Donald Trump said on Saturday that the United States has begun negotiations with European leaders over Greenland and that an agreement ...
Israel has reopened Gaza’s Rafah border crossing with Egypt in what Israeli media described as a “pilot operation,” marking the first opening of...
Russian drone strikes hit civilian sites across several Ukrainian regions overnight and on Sunday, leaving at least 12 people dead and more than a dozen injured, Ukrainian officials said.
A freight train carrying with Russian grain has departed from Bilajari station in Azerbaijan, heading to Armenia via transit routes through Georgia.
Dmitry Medvedev said European countries have failed to defeat Russia in Ukraine and have instead inflicted serious economic damage on themselves, as he criticised EU policy, praised Donald Trump as a leader who seeks peace, and said Russia would “soon” achieve military victory in the war.
U.S. President Donald Trump said on Saturday that the United States has begun negotiations with European leaders over Greenland and that an agreement is already taking shape.
Catherine O’Hara, the celebrated Canadian actress and comedy legend, has died at the age of 71, her publicist confirmed on Friday. She passed away at her home in Los Angeles following a brief illness.
Newly released Epstein files name French President Emmanuel Macron among figures referenced in millions of disclosed documents.
The United Nations faces the risk of “imminent financial collapse” because of unpaid contributions, including substantial arrears from the United States, Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has warned.
Vladimir Putin said Russia earned more than $15 billion from defence exports in 2025 and fulfilled all military-technical contracts despite what he described as growing pressure from Western countries.
Explosions shook parts of southern Lebanon on Friday night as Israeli strikes rippled across the Zahrani district, with the blasts travelling toward the coastal city of Sidon.
Russian drone strikes hit civilian sites across several Ukrainian regions overnight and on Sunday, leaving at least 12 people dead and more than a dozen injured, Ukrainian officials said.
Dmitry Medvedev said European countries have failed to defeat Russia in Ukraine and have instead inflicted serious economic damage on themselves, as he criticised EU policy, praised Donald Trump as a leader who seeks peace, and said Russia would “soon” achieve military victory in the war.
U.S. President Donald Trump said on Saturday that the United States has begun negotiations with European leaders over Greenland and that an agreement is already taking shape.
Israel has reopened Gaza’s Rafah border crossing with Egypt in what Israeli media described as a “pilot operation,” marking the first opening of the crossing in two years.
Russian Security Council Secretary Sergei Shoigu has arrived in China for an official visit, where he is due to meet Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi to discuss international and regional security issues, Russian state media reported on Sunday.
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