Campaigning for March 9 presidential vote kicks off in South Korea amid scandal, controversies

Campaigning for South Korea’s presidential election officially has kicked off, in what is expected to be the tightest race for the top post in 20 years amid controversies surrounding two key contenders.

The ruling Democratic Party’s Lee Jae-myung is running neck-and-neck with conservative People Power Party’s Yoon Suk-yeol, according to recently-conducted opinion polls.

Among 14 candidates in the fray, Lee and Yoon have been projected as frontrunners, with Yoon having a slight edge.

While Lee began his campaign at midnight with a visit to a shipping control tower in the southeastern port city of Busan, Yoon declared his bid at the Seoul National Cemetery, as per the Yonhap news agency.

Lee gained popularity as the former governor of Gyeonggi province, when he actively handled the coronavirus pandemic and championed the universal basic income.

Yoon, on the other hand, has recently made foray into politics. He shot to prominence as the prosecutor-general who led investigations into corruption scandals involving aides to former President Park Geun-hye, and current President Moon Jae-in.

According to opinion polls, voters are looking for a president who can address the grave issues of polarized politics, endemic corruption, and soaring housing prices.

The election on March 9 comes as the country continues to grapple with economic woes fueled by the coronavirus pandemic.

US hampers South Korea's end of war plan

South Korea has pressed forward for an official declaration to end the 1950-53 Korean War. The United States has largely foiled the initiative, however, issuing fresh sanctions on North Korea.

While, they come with impressive backgrounds, both Lee and Yoon have been criticized for negative campaigns, attacking their rival by scandals and petty controversies rather than introducing their long term programs on critical issues facing the country.

Growing frustration over mainstream politics and controversy surrounding both candidates’ families has led to an unpredictable rise in popularity of Ahn Cheol-soo, a software mogul and doctor and one of the fourteen candidates running for the office.

Asia's fourth largest economy has seen predictable results in the past three presidential election.

However with Ahn's rating polls rising to 15 percent over the past days and the possibility of Ahn and Yoon launching a joint campaign, the election results seem unpredictable.

On Sunday, Ahn predicted an “overwhelming victory” and national unity, by offering to merge campaigns with Yoon.

Yoon said that he will give the proposal “positive consideration”.

Bae Jong-chan, a political analyst who runs the Insight K think tank, was quoted as saying by Reuters that it is the “foggiest election” the country has seen in a while.

“This is the foggiest election we’ve seen in a while; it’s very rare that a likely winner has yet to emerge just three weeks before the vote,” he said.

This year’s election will be the first time 18 year olds will get a chance to vote and even quarantined coronavirus eligible voters will be allowed to vote after regular polling closes.

Current President Moon Jae-in cannot run for a second consecutive term, as per the country’s law.

The future president will run a single 5-year term starting May 10.  

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