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The Guardian - AU
The Guardian - AU
World
Raphael Rashid in Seoul

As South Korea heads to the polls, can Lee Jae-myung bring the country back from the brink?

Banners showing pictures of South Korea's Democratic Party's presidential election candidate Lee Jae-myung.
Banners showing pictures of South Korea's Democratic Party's presidential election candidate Lee Jae-myung. Photograph: Lee Jin-man/AP

The snipers positioned on Seoul rooftops scan the crowd through telescopic sights while counter-terrorism units patrol the perimeter with bomb-detection dogs. Bodyguards clutching ballistic briefcases form a protective ring.

On stage, Lee Jae-myung addresses thousands of supporters from behind bulletproof glass, protection that has become necessary after death threats and a stabbing attack against him last year.

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