South Korea is set to conduct a presidential election on June 3, as announced by the acting president following the ousting of former leader Yoon Suk Yeol due to a controversial martial law declaration.
Since December, South Korea has been without a definitive leader, as Mr. Yoon’s attempts to undermine civilian authority led to his quick impeachment by the legislature, resulting in his suspension from office.
Recently, a court upheld his impeachment, leading to his removal from the presidency and the call for new elections to take place within 60 days.
Prime Minister Han Duck-soo indicated that the government had engaged in “discussions with the National Election Commission and other relevant bodies” regarding the election.
Yoon Suk Yeol becomes the second South Korean president to be impeached by the court.
Consequently, it has been determined that “June 3 will be the date for South Korea’s 21st presidential election,” Mr. Han stated, adding that the day will be recognized as a temporary public holiday to ease the voting process.
The Prime Minister urged ministries and the National Election Commission to “prepare diligently to ensure an election that is fairer and more transparent than ever, fostering public trust.”
Unlike standard elections where the president-elect benefits from a two-month transition period, the victor of the June 3 election will be sworn in the very next day.
Currently, Prime Minister Han is managing the government as the acting president, a role he resumed after the Constitutional Court dismissed his own impeachment.
While presidential elections are usually held on Wednesdays, snap elections triggered by a vacancy do not require adherence to a specific weekday.
Read more: Thousands rally for South Korea’s impeached ex-president
The official campaign period is slated to run from May 12 to June 2.
Opposition leader Lee Jae-myung is leading in numerous polls, boasting a 34% support rating according to the latest Gallup survey.
His party already holds a majority in the National Assembly.
He narrowly lost to Mr. Yoon in the 2022 presidential race but made a political comeback as the leader of the main opposition, despite facing a series of legal challenges, including ongoing trials.
In a clear second position is Labour Minister Kim Moon-soo.
Polling around 9%, he is among several challengers from Mr. Yoon’s People Power Party, which also includes former party leader Han Dong-hoon.
Protesters against Yoon Suk Yeol took part in a rally celebrating his removal.
Last Friday, millions of Koreans watched live as the Constitutional Court delivered its verdict, officially ousting Mr. Yoon.
In a bid to prevent lawmakers from overturning his decree, Mr. Yoon sent armed soldiers to parliament, an act deemed by the court as deploying military personnel for “political purposes”.
Mr. Yoon is the second South Korean president to face impeachment by the court, following Park Geun-hye in 2017.
In the four months since the martial law announcement, South Korea has been without an effective head of state.
This leadership void coincided with several crises, including an aviation disaster and the most devastating wildfires in the nation’s history.
Last week, South Korea encountered a 25% tariff on exports to its key ally, the United States, after President Donald Trump introduced global so-called reciprocal tariffs.
Additionally, Mr. Yoon faces a separate criminal trial on insurrection charges related to the martial law attempt.
