Photologue @theuostimes7
The day to determine the national leader for the next five years has finally come. The 20th Presidential Election of the Republic of Korea is to be held on March 9, 2022.
Initially, 14 presidential candidates finished their registration on February 14, 2022 and commenced their campaign for the presidency. However, candidate no.9 Kim Dong-yeon and candidate no.4 Ahn Cheol-soo withdrew from the campaign, endorsing Lee Jae-myung(candidate no.1) and Yoon Suk-yeol(candidate no.2), respectively. Hence, the citizens of Korea will now have to choose among the 12 candidates.
On the most recent opinion poll reported on March 2, which is the final result before the report restriction in effect from March 3, the two leading candidates, Mr. Lee and Mr. Yoon came into a draw in the approval rating - 40 percent each, followed by Mr. Ahn with 9 percent who merged his candidacy with Mr. Yoon after the poll was reported.
The early voting took place from March 4 to March 4, 2022, with the turnout – 36.93 percent - marking the highest since its first employment in 2014. Consequently, the highest overall voting turnout may be anticipated. Conversely, some issues, including the loose confirmation on voter IDs and the early ballots handled poorly in paper shopping bags, are arguably causing distrust on the voting system itself.
The high early voting turnout seems to be in accordance with the rising concern toward politics, both domestic and the international as well as the recent spread of COVID-19 Omicron variant. It is safe to say that the coming event would be the most decisive moment for Korea on its future for the next decade. Albeit the vote credibility issues and recent wildfire disasters, The UOS TIMES wishes fair and translucent election.