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By Kim Se-jeong
Many citizens celebrated the win of Moon Jae-in in the presidential election, describing it as the highlight of the "candlelight revolution."
They said the election was more than an ordinary and routine way to choose the next leader.
"I really wanted to elect a leader who can lead the country," a 55-year-old voter surnamed Sohn said outside Hyochang-dong Office in Seoul as she was leaving the voting booth.
Sohn said she had been fed up with former President Park Geun-hye who was impeached for her role in a massive corruption and influence-peddling scandal. "With the election, we complete the process," she said.
Triggered by the scandal in October, the months-long candlelit vigils removed Park from office. Sohn, who attended every single protest, voted for Moon Jae-in of the Democratic Party of Korea.
Chung Ji-min, 20, from Mangwon-dong in western Seoul, said she's voting because of the protests. She said she went to a few rallies with friends. "What I saw got me to cast my ballot." She had injured her foot in a recent car accident but went to vote with the assistance of her mother.
Election day started wet with a light drizzle. Many showed up braving the unfavorable weather conditions in the morning, which continued until late evening.
One common scene at the polling stations was people taking photos outside polling booths. This had never been allowed before in Korean elections. Many parents were accompanied by their children and took photos together.
Many voters said they had voted for Moon, while even those who voted for other candidates projected his victory.
"Moon certainly will win. I heard many changed their minds to vote for Moon because he will win anyway," said Kim Jong-ae, 67, from Seoul. Kim herself voted for Hong Joon-pyo, the candidate from the conservative Liberty Korea Party. "I also had pressure from my two sons, but I didn't want to change my mind because I don't like Moon." She said Korea under Moon's leadership would be unstable and face bigger threats from North Korea.
Voters wanted meaningful changes in Korea's political and social landscape under a new leader. Jobs and security were the most imminent problems, they said.
"We need jobs for young people. There are so many who are well educated but unemployed," said Lee Kyung-ae, 50.
"Korea's minimum wage is not high at all. But the worse problem is that there are people who don't even receive the legal minimum wage. I want this problem to be solved," said a 23-year-old student surnamed Kim from Chuncheon, Gangwon Province.
Goh Jong-soon, 50, who voted for Sim Sang-jung of the Justice Party, said he wants Korea to be a place where those who work hard can succeed. "Right now, parents pay so much money for the private education of their children. That means both parents should work. That means collapsing families. If my children get jobs even out of high school, life will be so much different."
Chung Seung-hyun, 36, a working mother in Seoul, hoped Korea will be safer. "I want my daughters to live in a safe country."
Also, Kim Kwang-jin, 72, who runs a real estate business in Seoul, hoped for open communication between the leader and people. "If Park Geun-hye had better communication, the scandal would not have happened."
But voters were cautious about their wishes. "I wouldn't say the new leader will be able to change everything for the better. But hopefully, he will not make things worse," said Chun Yoo-sin, 48, a software programmer from Seoul.
