SEOUL: South Korea will hold a snap presidential election on June 3, following last week’s dramatic removal of President Yoon Suk-yeol from office over his brief imposition of martial law in December.
The announcement came Tuesday from Acting President Han Duck-soo, who said the election date was selected to give political parties sufficient time to prepare and to ensure smooth electoral operations. Under South Korean law, a new president must be elected within 60 days of a vacancy.
Yoon, who was elected in 2022, was unanimously impeached by the Constitutional Court for breaching his constitutional duties. His controversial declaration of martial law and the deployment of troops to the National Assembly floor on December 3 caused widespread public outrage. Although the order was rescinded within hours, it drew fierce criticism and revived painful memories of past authoritarian regimes.
The early election is expected to dramatically reshape South Korea’s political landscape and could carry major implications for the country’s foreign policy, particularly with the United States.
Han, whose own impeachment was later overturned by the court, will remain acting president until a new head of state is elected and sworn in.
Opposition leader Lee Jae-myung of the Democratic Party currently leads the race, despite facing ongoing legal challenges. A recent Gallup Korea poll placed his support at 34%, well ahead of his conservative rivals. Lee, who narrowly lost to Yoon in 2022, is expected to resign as party leader and formally announce his candidacy this week.
Among conservative contenders, former Labour Minister Kim Moon-soo and lawmaker Ahn Cheol-soo have both declared their bids. Kim resigned from his cabinet post on Tuesday, saying he felt a “sense of responsibility to resolve national difficulties.”
Ahn, who supported Yoon’s impeachment, is positioning himself as a reform candidate focused on tech-driven economic growth. He has pledged to promote AI-led initiatives to help cushion the economic impact of recent U.S. tariffs under President Donald Trump’s revived trade policies.
South Korea’s economy has faced mounting pressure following Trump’s imposition of a 25% tariff on vehicle imports. Trade Minister Cheong In-kyo is currently in Washington seeking exemptions.
Yoon, now stripped of presidential immunity, is expected to stand trial for insurrection beginning April 14.
This snap election comes just six years after the impeachment of another conservative leader, Park Geun-hye, in 2017, underscoring the volatile nature of South Korean presidential politics.
