South Korea presidential election: could Russia’s invasion of Ukraine sway the vote for ‘the lesser of two evils’?
- Voters are heading to the polls as Lee Jae-Myung of the ruling Democratic Party faces off against Yoon Suk-yeol of the People Power Party
- Soaring house prices, inflation and Covid have been high on the campaign agenda, but Russia’s invasion has concentrated minds on the threat from Pyongyang
When South Korean software mogul and physician Ahn Cheol-soo emerged as a contender in the presidential election five years ago, he was tipped as a game changer and a dark horse.
This time around, Moon is barred by the constitution from seeking re-election for the next five-year term and Ahn has been consistently polling in third place ahead of the March 9 election.
On Thursday, Ahn decided to call it quits, withdrawing from the race and declaring his support for one of the two front runners - former prosecutor Yoon Suk-yeol, whose People Power Party – the main opposition force – is seeking to unseat Moon’s ruling Democratic Party.
That is if the centrists and more moderate conservatives who support Ahn decide to shift their support to Yoon.
On hearing the news of Ahn’s decision, Lee put on a brave face telling attendees at a rally that he would “continue down the path toward the improvement of living standards, economy, peace and unity”.