TEMPO.CO, Seoul - South Korea is gearing up for a snap presidential election on June 3, following the impeachment of Yoon Suk Yeol after his short-lived martial law that shook the nation. The Indonesian Embassy in Seoul unveils its anticipatory steps for the upcoming government transition.
According to the Interim Charge d'Affaires of the Indonesian Embassy in Seoul, Zelda Wulan Kartika, her team has approached potential parties that might lead South Korea after the election.
"The Indonesian Embassy has maintained its approach to the current ruling party, but also approaches other contesting candidates in the upcoming election," Zelda told Indonesian journalists at the embassy office at the end of May 2025.
The current ruling party is the People Power Party (PPP), which has been in hot water after former President Yoon Suk Yeol imposed unilateral martial law in December 2024.
Zelda also added that the Indonesian Embassy team has conveyed various hopes from the Indonesian government. "We are hoping that despite the change in government later, South Korea will continue to pay attention to the issues of Southeast Asia, including Indonesia," she said.
The Interim Charge d'Affaires of the Indonesian Embassy in Seoul, Zelda Wulan Kartika (second from the right)/Tempo-Mitra Tarigan
Zelda said Indonesia and South Korea engage in various cooperation programs, something that the embassy hopes will be maintained despite governmental shifts. "We wish for Indonesia to remain prioritized," she said.
Tempo had the opportunity to visit South Korea as part of the Indonesian Next Generation Journalist Network on Korea program. This program was held in collaboration with the Foreign Policy Community of Indonesia (FPCI) and the Korea Foundation on May 18-24.
During this occasion, Tempo also observed the nation's atmosphere leading up to the presidential election. Similar to Indonesia, there were many banners displayed on poles. With Hangul, or Korean writing, they wrote down their visions and missions.
In addition to banners for each presidential candidate, there was also one long banner containing all candidates in the race, often with white background.
Campaign banners for the South Korean Presidential Candidates at the end of May 2025 in Busan, South Korea. Atmosphere ahead of the South Korean Election/Tempo- Mitra Tarigan
But despite the banners displayed, the numbers are less than those in Indonesia, where campaign props are installed every 10 meters. In South Korea, most of the campaign banners are placed at main gathering points or intersections. Banners containing all candidates are usually placed between poles on sidewalks.
Besides banners, supporters are seen taking to the streets and handing out leaflets to promote their supported candidates. It's a solemn affair, another point of divergence from the boisterous political gatherings in Indonesia.
Tempo observed one volunteer distributing leaflets for a presidential candidate at Gwangalli Beach, Busan, a 4-hour train ride from Seoul. There was only one person standing on the beach distributing the leaflets. Radio and loudspeakers are absent, with only a notice board next to the person to indicate who they are rooting for in the snap election.
But not all campaign strategies are quiet. Some do deploy loudspeakers, often from modified vehicles displaying moving screens with images of the presidential candidates.
With the loudspeaker, volunteers will campaign for the public on the various visions and missions of the candidates. Whereas campaign season in Jakarta will see groups of motorcycles rowdily parade around the city with candidate-specific banners and flags, in South Korea, the mobile campaigns are not as festive.
In the places visited by Tempo, namely Seoul and Busan, the campaign crowds are quite stately. So much so that what appeared to be campaign vehicles, Tempo mistook them as food carts.
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