South Koreans ready for a vote marked by the coronavirus

Tomorrow’s general elections will measure the mood of the country, with President Moon Jae-in's Democratic Party earning good points on its quick handling of the pandemic, not so many for its management of the economy.

Seoul (AsiaNews/Agencies) – South Koreans are set to vote tomorrow against the backdrop of a pandemic that is negatively affecting an already sluggish economy as well as an electoral reform that has lowered the voting age to 18 and boosted the chances of smaller parties.

Wednesday’s general election will measure the mood of the country. So far, the administration of President Moon Jae-in's Democratic Party has earned good points for its handling of the pandemic, not so many for its management of the economy. According to some analysts, the vote should be close.

Once home to the world's second main coronavirus outbreak, South Korea has brought the epidemic under control. The latest report notes 27 new confirmed cases, the lowest count since February.

However, as the global death toll for COVID-19 continues to rise, experts warn that South Korea cannot let its guard down. A small cluster could spark another mass outbreak, this according to South Korean epidemiologists.

South Korean authorities recently extended social distancing guidelines for another two weeks and plans to automatically quarantine all travellers from abroad.

For some analysts, the pandemic will likely affect the way voters judge President Moon and his party. Recent polls suggest that many South Koreans approve of Moon's handling of the coronavirus crisis with his approval rating hitting a high last week.

Although Moon's term of office ends in 2022, his actions may bode well for his party. However, this general election is taking place under new electoral rules, approved at the beginning of the year.

The larger proportional share should allow smaller parties to enter parliament. One might be the party that represents North Korean defectors who want to defend their rights and those of North Koreans. Another is that of a group of feminists whose platform is centred on action against sexual violence and other women's issues.

The lowering of the voting age from 19 to 18 should not make significant difference.

• south korea
• parliamentary election
• coronavirus
• covid-10
• pandemic
• economy
• moon jae-in