Photo: Lee Jae-myung (center left) on the campaign trail. Credit: Democratic Party of Korea.
With Yoon Suk-yeol 윤석열 removed from office, the race for the next president of South Korea is on. In this week’s Gallup Korea poll, Democratic Party chairman Lee Jae-myung 이재명 민주당 당대표 is leading the field with 34% overall support, with no other prospective candidate cracking 10%. Far-right Labor Minister Kim Mun-su 김문수 노동부 장관 led among conservatives with 8% support, and former People Power Party chairman Han Dong-hun 한동훈 전 국민의힘 당대표 followed with 5%.
Lee has a significant lead in hypothetical head-to-head matchups as well. In the first poll conducted after Yoon’s removal, Lee beat Kim 53% to 35%, and Han, 52% to 32%. Lee led Seoul mayor O Se-hun 오세훈 서울 시장 51% to 37%, and Daegu mayor Hong Jun-pyo 홍준표 대구 시장, 52% to 38%.
