Presidential election voter turnout in South Korea 1987-2022

In South Korea's 20th presidential election in 2022, voter turnout was 77.1 percent. Voter turnout refers to the percentage of eligible voters who actually participate in an election. South Korea had a relatively high turnout of over 80 percent until the 2000s, with the lowest turnout recorded in the 2007 presidential election, although a gradual increase has been indicated in figures thereafter.

The presidential system in South Korea

South Korea's president is elected directly for a five-year term and is not eligible for re-election. As head of state, head of government, and commander-in-chief of the armed forces, the president is authorized, among other things, to appoint public officials and enforce laws passed by the National Assembly. The president also holds the power to declare war, and sign treaties with foreign states.

The political landscape in South Korea

Since South Korea's democratization in 1987, the country's political spectrum has been largely dominated by the two major camps of progressives and conservatives and can thus be seen as highly polarized. According to a survey conducted in December 2021, around 23 percent of respondents described themselves as progressive, while about 27 percent of respondents identified their political views as conservative. A further 34 percent of respondents considered themselves moderates. In another survey, around 85 percent of respondents said that the conflict between conservatives and progressives in South Korea is of a serious nature. Only about 14.5 percent felt that the conflict of political ideologies was not that serious or not serious at all.