South Koreans will choose a new president Wednesday, wrapping up an election campaign marked by high-profile corruption allegations and bitter personal attacks.
The liberal candidate, former provincial governor Lee Jae-myung, and his conservative rival, ex-prosecutor Yoon Seok-youl, are locked in a tight race ahead of the vote.
South Korea faces no shortage of urgent issues, including skyrocketing housing prices, high youth unemployment, and a pandemic-induced economic slowdown.
But debate over those issues has been overshadowed by ferocious mudslinging between the two candidates, which many observers say has reached unprecedented levels.
“Unlike in the past, when there was fighting over a cause or for an ideology, this campaign has focused more on personal attacks,” says Kim Min-ha, a political commentator and author. “It is said this is the worst election ever.”
