With less than three weeks remaining until South Korea’s June 3 presidential election, the three-way contest among Democratic Party (DP) candidate Lee Jae-myung, People Power Party (PPP) candidate Kim Moon-soo, and Lee Jun-seok of the New Reform Party is intensifying.
On Thursday, Lee Jae-myung held a major campaign rally in South Jeolla Province, a traditional stronghold of the liberal DP. Meanwhile, PPP’s Kim Moon-soo issued a public apology—his second—for the failed martial law attempt by ousted former President Yoon Suk Yeol, in a bid to regain public trust.
The campaign trail reflected sharply contrasting strategies. Lee Jae-myung continued to solidify his base in the Honam region, beginning his day with a youth-focused live YouTube session at Hwagae Market in Hadong, South Gyeongsang Province. He addressed pressing issues including employment, housing, and child care, before proceeding to campaign events in Gwangyang, Yeosu, Suncheon, and Mokpo.
In a separate Facebook post, Lee also marked Teacher’s Day by extending gratitude to educators, lauding their role in shaping the nation’s youth.
Polling data suggests Lee is maintaining a strong lead. A recent National Barometer Survey indicates he holds 49% support, significantly ahead of Kim Moon-soo at 27%, with Lee Jun-seok trailing at 7%.
Kim, struggling to close the gap, focused his Thursday campaign efforts on the Seoul Metropolitan Area—a politically crucial region less swayed by traditional regional loyalties and more responsive to policy platforms. He began the day with a breakfast meeting on artificial intelligence and corporate strategies hosted by the Korea Federation of Small and Medium Business. There, he pledged to revise the Serious Accidents Punishment Act, stating, “If I become the decision-maker, I will make sure that this harmful law no longer disturbs you.”
Later, Kim greeted commuters at Sindorim Station in southwestern Seoul and held a luncheon with acting U.S. Ambassador Joseph Yun at the U.S. Ambassador’s residence. The meeting likely covered key bilateral topics such as U.S. tariffs and security cooperation under a potential second term of President Donald Trump, according to Yonhap News Agency.
Kim’s renewed apology over former President Yoon’s controversial martial law plan underscores ongoing divisions within the PPP and its efforts to distance itself from the disgraced former leader.
Earlier this week, Kim visited Daegu, Busan, and other cities in the Yeongnam region to consolidate support among conservative voters before shifting focus to Seoul.
As the race enters its final stretch, the candidates are intensifying outreach efforts to sway undecided voters, particularly in strategic regions such as Seoul and Honam. With momentum on his side, Lee Jae-myung appears poised to capitalize on voter dissatisfaction with the previous administration, while Kim Moon-soo faces the uphill task of unifying conservative ranks and broadening his appeal.
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