Search
00
GBAF Logo
trophy
Top StoriesInterviewsBusinessFinanceBankingTechnologyInvestingTradingVideosAwardsMagazinesHeadlinesTrends

Subscribe to our newsletter

Get the latest news and updates from our team.

Global Banking & Finance Review®

Global Banking & Finance Review® - Subscribe to our newsletter

Company

    GBAF Logo
    • About Us
    • Profile
    • Privacy & Cookie Policy
    • Terms of Use
    • Contact Us
    • Advertising
    • Submit Post
    • Latest News
    • Research Reports
    • Press Release
    • Awards▾
      • About the Awards
      • Awards TimeTable
      • Submit Nominations
      • Testimonials
      • Media Room
      • Award Winners
      • FAQ
    • Magazines▾
      • Global Banking & Finance Review Magazine Issue 79
      • Global Banking & Finance Review Magazine Issue 78
      • Global Banking & Finance Review Magazine Issue 77
      • Global Banking & Finance Review Magazine Issue 76
      • Global Banking & Finance Review Magazine Issue 75
      • Global Banking & Finance Review Magazine Issue 73
      • Global Banking & Finance Review Magazine Issue 71
      • Global Banking & Finance Review Magazine Issue 70
      • Global Banking & Finance Review Magazine Issue 69
      • Global Banking & Finance Review Magazine Issue 66
    Top StoriesInterviewsBusinessFinanceBankingTechnologyInvestingTradingVideosAwardsMagazinesHeadlinesTrends

    Global Banking & Finance Review® is a leading financial portal and online magazine offering News, Analysis, Opinion, Reviews, Interviews & Videos from the world of Banking, Finance, Business, Trading, Technology, Investing, Brokerage, Foreign Exchange, Tax & Legal, Islamic Finance, Asset & Wealth Management.
    Copyright © 2010-2026 GBAF Publications Ltd - All Rights Reserved. | Sitemap | Tags | Developed By eCorpIT

    Editorial & Advertiser disclosure

    Global Banking & Finance Review® is an online platform offering news, analysis, and opinion on the latest trends, developments, and innovations in the banking and finance industry worldwide. The platform covers a diverse range of topics, including banking, insurance, investment, wealth management, fintech, and regulatory issues. The website publishes news, press releases, opinion and advertorials on various financial organizations, products and services which are commissioned from various Companies, Organizations, PR agencies, Bloggers etc. These commissioned articles are commercial in nature. This is not to be considered as financial advice and should be considered only for information purposes. It does not reflect the views or opinion of our website and is not to be considered an endorsement or a recommendation. We cannot guarantee the accuracy or applicability of any information provided with respect to your individual or personal circumstances. Please seek Professional advice from a qualified professional before making any financial decisions. We link to various third-party websites, affiliate sales networks, and to our advertising partners websites. When you view or click on certain links available on our articles, our partners may compensate us for displaying the content to you or make a purchase or fill a form. This will not incur any additional charges to you. To make things simpler for you to identity or distinguish advertised or sponsored articles or links, you may consider all articles or links hosted on our site as a commercial article placement. We will not be responsible for any loss you may suffer as a result of any omission or inaccuracy on the website.

    Home > Headlines > South Korea presidential hopefuls make final pre-election pitch to voters
    Headlines

    South Korea presidential hopefuls make final pre-election pitch to voters

    Published by Global Banking & Finance Review®

    Posted on June 2, 2025

    3 min read

    Last updated: January 23, 2026

    South Korea presidential hopefuls make final pre-election pitch to voters - Headlines news and analysis from Global Banking & Finance Review
    Why waste money on news and opinion when you can access them for free?

    Take advantage of our newsletter subscription and stay informed on the go!

    Subscribe

    Tags:PresidentGDPeconomic growthfinancial stabilitypolitical risk insurance

    Quick Summary

    South Korea's presidential candidates make final campaign efforts before the election, focusing on economic revival and political reform.

    South Korea's Presidential Candidates Make Final Push Before Election

    By Jack Kim

    SEOUL (Reuters) -South Korea's leading presidential hopefuls crisscrossed the country on the final day of campaigning on Monday before converging on Seoul, vowing to revive an ailing economy and put months of turmoil over a failed martial law attempt behind them.

    Tuesday's election was triggered by the ouster of Yoon Suk Yeol after he briefly imposed martial law in December, stunning South Koreans who had come to believe the days of using the military to intervene in the democratic process were long past.

    Liberal frontrunner Lee Jae-myung vowed to mend the social division that deepened in the aftermath of Yoon's martial law, but said his opponent and Yoon's People Power Party must be held accountable, branding them "insurrection sympathisers".

    "We are at a historic inflection point of whether we go on as a democratic republic or become a country of dictators," Lee told a campaign rally in the battleground capital.

    Later he said his top priority as president if elected would be urgent steps to address the economy, adding he would first turn his attention to the cost of living for middle- and low-income families and the struggles of small business owners.

    After sweeping through key swing vote regions and the stronghold of his main conservative opponent, Kim Moon-soo, Lee focused on the capital region - home to the highest concentration of the country's 44.39 million voters.

    Around 40,000 supporters gathered at Lee's final campaign rally near the National Assembly, where he and 189 other lawmakers voted to lift Yoon's martial law six months ago as their aides and citizens were stopping soldiers from entering the building, according to his party.

    Kim began the final day on the southern island of Jeju before crossing the country north, calling Lee a "dangerous man" who, if elected, would abuse the office of president and the parliament controlled by his Democratic Party under "Hitler-style" dictatorship.

    The conservative candidate once again apologised on Monday for Yoon's martial law and pledged to undertake political reform.

    "Martial law was wrong, and there were many other wrongdoings. I promise Korean politics will be different from the past," Kim said at his last rally near Seoul City Hall.

    The two leading candidates were scheduled to wrap up three weeks of official campaigning at midnight in Seoul, with polls set to open at 6 a.m. (2100 GMT on Monday) on Tuesday across the country.

    The winner, who will be certified on Wednesday, will have just a short few hours before taking office without the usual two-month transition as Yoon was removed by the Constitutional Court on April 4 for grave violation of his lawful duties.

    (Reporting by Jack Kim; additional reporting by Jihoon Lee; editing by Ed Davies, Saad Sayeed and Mark Heinrich)

    Key Takeaways

    • •South Korea's presidential candidates conclude final campaign day.
    • •Election follows ouster of Yoon Suk Yeol after martial law attempt.
    • •Lee Jae-myung focuses on economic revival and social unity.
    • •Kim Moon-soo promises political reform and apologizes for martial law.
    • •Election results will be certified shortly after polls close.

    Frequently Asked Questions about South Korea presidential hopefuls make final pre-election pitch to voters

    1What are the main issues addressed by Lee Jae-myung?

    Lee Jae-myung emphasized the need to mend social divisions and prioritize the economy, particularly focusing on the cost of living for middle- and low-income families.

    2What was Kim Moon-soo's stance on martial law?

    Kim Moon-soo apologized for the martial law imposed by Yoon Suk Yeol and promised to undertake political reform to ensure different governance in the future.

    3When do the polls open for the South Korean election?

    The polls for the South Korean election are set to open at 6 a.m. on Tuesday, following the final day of campaigning.

    4How many supporters attended Lee Jae-myung's final rally?

    Around 40,000 supporters gathered at Lee Jae-myung's final campaign rally near the National Assembly.

    5What is the significance of the upcoming election?

    The election is significant as it follows the ouster of Yoon Suk Yeol and poses a critical choice for South Korea between democratic governance and potential authoritarianism.

    More from Headlines

    Explore more articles in the Headlines category

    Image for Former French minister Lang resigns from Arab World Institute over Epstein ties
    Former French minister Lang resigns from Arab World Institute over Epstein ties
    Image for Hooded protesters throw flares at police at end of demonstration in Olympic host city Milan
    Hooded protesters throw flares at police at end of demonstration in Olympic host city Milan
    Image for Greenland foreign minister says US talks are positive but the outcome remains uncertain
    Greenland foreign minister says US talks are positive but the outcome remains uncertain
    Image for Hungary's opposition Tisza promises wealth tax, euro adoption in election programme
    Hungary's opposition Tisza promises wealth tax, euro adoption in election programme
    Image for Thousands protest in Berlin in solidarity with Iranian uprisings
    Thousands protest in Berlin in solidarity with Iranian uprisings
    Image for Farmers report 'catastrophic' damage to crops as Storm Marta hits Spain and Portugal
    Farmers report 'catastrophic' damage to crops as Storm Marta hits Spain and Portugal
    Image for France opens probe against ex-culture minister lang after Epstein file dump
    France opens probe against ex-culture minister lang after Epstein file dump
    Image for If US attacks, Iran says it will strike US bases in the region
    If US attacks, Iran says it will strike US bases in the region
    Image for Suspected saboteurs hit Italian rail network near Bologna, police say
    Suspected saboteurs hit Italian rail network near Bologna, police say
    Image for Olympics-Protesters in Milan denounce impact of Games on environment
    Olympics-Protesters in Milan denounce impact of Games on environment
    Image for Olympics-Biathlon-Winter Games bring tourism boost to biathlon hotbed of northern Italy
    Olympics-Biathlon-Winter Games bring tourism boost to biathlon hotbed of northern Italy
    Image for US pushes Russia and Ukraine to end war by summer, Zelenskiy says
    US pushes Russia and Ukraine to end war by summer, Zelenskiy says
    View All Headlines Posts
    Previous Headlines PostTrump tariffs deal major blow to European steelmakers, Salzgitter CEO warns
    Next Headlines PostPolish stocks fall as eurosceptic Nawrocki elected president