S Korean voters weigh divide

THE top contenders in South Korea's presidential vote today have framed their campaigns as an existential fight for the country’s soul, and whoever wins will have to unite a sharply-polarised society.

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The election was triggered by ex-leader Yoon Suk Yeol’s disastrous declaration of martial law last year.

All major polls suggest victory for Lee Jae-myung of the liberal Democratic Party, with Kim Moon-soo of the right-wing People Power Party (PPP) trailing far behind.

From the city of Daegu, for decades synonymous with conservatism, to Gwangju, the spiritual heartland of the left, AFP spoke to voters about where they stand and how the country’s divide can be healed.

Lee Woo-hyun, an entertainment professional from Daegu and long-time conservative voter,said the martial law fiasco “really shook” him.

“When I talk to my parents and other senior citizens, I can see they are turning away from the red? the 45-year-old said, referring to the symbolic colour of the PPP.

Ko Seung-ju, an electrical engineering major, sees growing cracks in Daegus traditional conservative support base. “Younger voters are no longer likely to blindly support the conservatives,’ Ko said.