S. Korea’s 2025 election amid shifting voter sentiment

Welcome to Within The Frame, where we bring the most pressing issues across the globe into focus. I'm Kim Mok-yeon.

With just 19 days to go before Korea's 21st presidential election on June 3rd, the race is intensifying—not just between the candidates, but in the minds of voters still weighing their choices.

Lee Jae-myung of the Democratic Party is currently leading in national polls, while Kim Moon-soo of the People Power Party and Lee Jun-seok of the minor New Reform Party are both vying to reshape the conservative field in very different ways.

But beyond party lines, this election is taking place in the long shadow of a constitutional crisis, rising economic anxiety, and growing public demand for trustworthy leadership.

Tonight, we delve into what's really driving this race—how voters are shifting, and what the candidates are proposing for the next administration.

For this, we are joined by attorney An Jun-seong in the studio. Welcome.

Also joining us online is Choi Hyun-sun, Professor of Public Administration at Myongji University. Great to see you.

1. (CHOI) Let's begin with the overall picture. Professor Choi, DP's Lee Jae-myung seems to be leading in major polls lately, but Korean elections often shift dramatically in the final days. Based on your past observations, how reliable are these early numbers, and what kind of voter movement typically happens in the final stretch?

2. (AN) Staying with the electoral map—Kim Moon-soo and Lee Jun-seok, who are both conservative candidates have decided to run separately. In practice, how do Korean voters usually respond to this kind of divided field? Do they consolidate around one candidate, or hold their ground?

3. (AN) And all of this is happening against a very particular backdrop. This is a presidential election that follows a constitutional crisis and the martial law controversy under former President Yoon Suk Yeol. How has that shaped the public's expectations about leadership or trust in political institutions?

4.(CHOI) Let's talk about voters who often shape the outcome. Younger and independent voters have shown more flexible voting patterns in recent elections, sometimes shifting between parties based on specific issues. How are campaigns this year trying to reach these voters—and do you expect them to play a decisive role again?

5.(CHOI) Now shifting into the policy front. The three main candidates offer distinct visions for the economy: Lee Jae-myung supports large-scale public investment, Kim Moon-soo promotes tax cuts and deregulation, and Lee Jun-seok emphasizes local wage flexibility and leaner government. How do these reflect different philosophies on economic recovery?

6.(AN) Let's look at what's legally possible. In terms of spending authority, Lee Jae-myung calls for major public investment without raising taxes, while Kim Moon-soo opposes additional debt, and Lee Jun-seok favors structural, not financial, solutions. Attorney An, under Korea's legal and institutional frameworks, how much flexibility does the presidency actually have to pursue these agendas?

7. (AN) Another area with wide divergence is pension reform. Lee Jae-myung wants to improve the current model, Kim Moon-soo backs automatic adjustment systems, while Lee Jun-seok proposes a dual-track overhaul. From a governance standpoint, how feasible is each?

8. (CHOI) And when it comes to environmental leadership— Lee Jae-myung pledges to phase out coal and expand renewables, Kim Moon-soo emphasizes nuclear energy and climate resilience, while Lee Jun-seok has not released a formal climate or energy policy. How might these differences shape Korea's environmental direction?

9. (BOTH) Finally, bringing it all together, from fiscal policy to institutional reform, each candidate is making ambitious promises. For voters trying to cut through the noise, what are the signs they should look for to judge which pledges are realistic and which may be campaign talk? What should signal credibility?