SEOUL (Reuters) – South Koreans headed to voting stations today to elect a new leader, looking to move on from a corruption scandal that brought down former President Park Geun-hye and shook the political and business elite to the core.
Unless there is a major upset, liberal Moon Jae-in – who calls for a moderate approach on North Korea, wants to reform powerful family-run conglomerates and boost fiscal spending to create jobs – will be elected president.
The vote will end a months-long leadership vacuum. Park was ousted on charges of bribery and abuse of power in March to become South Korea’s first democratically elected president to be forced from office. She is in jail, on trial.
Park has denied wrongdoing. She decided not to vote, despite having the right to do so, South Korean media reported.
Moon, who narrowly lost to Park in the previous presidential election in 2012, has criticised the two former conservative governments for failing to stop North Korea’s weapons development. He advocates a two-track policy of dialogue while maintaining pressure and sanctions to encourage change.
A Gallup Korea poll published last Wednesday showed Moon with 38 per cent support in a field of 13 candidates, with centrist Ahn Cheol-soo his nearest challenger on 20 per cent.
Moon told reporters after casting his ballot he had “given the campaign his all”, and urged South Koreans to vote.
Ahn, who voted earlier at a different polling station, said he would wait for the people’s “wise decision”. Other presidential candidates were also seen voting early in the day.
